Alicante Hospital Explores AI Use to Enhance Sleep Apnea Equipment Utilisation

El Hospital Sant Joan d'Alacant has unveiled a pioneering national study on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in devices for sleep apnea. To mark the 30th anniversary of the Sleep Unit, an information desk has been set up in the hospital lobby, where questionnaires have been conducted and the equipment used in the treatment of this condition has been displayed.

According to Juan Antonio Marqués, manager of the Alicante-Sant Joan d'Alacant health department, "this 30th anniversary reaffirms our commitment to innovation and excellence in the treatment of sleep disorders, contributing to improving patients' quality of life through the application of new technologies and advanced therapeutic approaches."

The study, named Airgenious, is a multicentre project in collaboration with Linde Médica, involving several Spanish hospitals, with the Hospital Sant Joan d'Alacant as the leading centre and with the largest number of patients included, reaching a hundred. This research evaluates the effectiveness of compliance and adherence programmes to CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) therapy using AI and remote telemonitoring, compared to other follow-up methods, such as early visits and reinforcement phone calls.

CPAP is a device that, through a nasal mask, supplies pressurised air during sleep to keep the airway open, preventing snoring and apnea episodes. Eusebi Chiner, head of the Pneumology Service at the Hospital Universitario Sant Joan d'Alacant, highlighted that "the results are very promising, and the application of artificial intelligence in these units will allow early detection of low compliance patterns, providing speed and efficiency in monitoring and resource utilisation."

Currently, it is estimated that around 25% of patients do not adequately comply with the treatment, which can lead to serious consequences such as traffic or work accidents, poor performance, fatigue, cardiovascular problems, and emotional distress.

In the province of Alicante, 62,000 patients use home respiratory therapies, of which 80% are CPAP users, 12% use oxygen therapy, and 8% use other treatments such as home mechanical ventilation. In the Alicante-Sant Joan d'Alacant health department, nearly 7,000 people receive home respiratory therapy, the vast majority, a total of 5,818, are treated for sleep disorders.

The study employs an AI chip that continuously collects data and sends it online to a platform that interprets it with the help of a doctor. Thanks to this advancement, at least 50% of patients who did not comply with the treatment have improved their adherence.

The Multidisciplinary Sleep Unit of the Hospital Sant Joan d'Alacant, dependent on Pneumology, is a national reference and a pioneer in the Valencian Community. It has participated in numerous multicentre studies published in international scientific journals and boasts high diagnostic capacity. It should be noted that 80% of patients with sleep respiratory disorders remain undiagnosed. The Unit is accredited by the Spanish Society of Pneumology and Thoracic Surgery (Separ) and the Spanish Sleep Society (SES).

In the past year, this unit has conducted 250 conventional polysomnographies, 850 hospital and home cardiorespiratory polygraphies, 120 studies in children, and evaluated 750 new patients with sleep problems, in addition to conducting at least 1,800 follow-ups.

It is worth noting that sleep problems are on the rise, with insomnia being the most common, followed by sleep respiratory disorders, restless legs syndrome, and narcolepsy, among others. In this regard, Chiner has warned about the high consumption of hypnotics in the Spanish population, which is among the highest in the European Union: "We must address this condition from a comprehensive approach, considering healthy habits such as sleep hygiene, physical exercise, and mental health."

In many cases, the use of sedatives can mask undiagnosed problems that require specific treatment, such as sleep apnea or restless legs syndrome.