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Biomedical subjects

Thomas A Dillard

Publications and source records attributed to Thomas A Dillard.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

A comparison of polysomnography and the SleepStrip in the diagnosis of OSA.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of a portable screening device (SleepStrip) in the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). METHODS AND MATERIALS: Prospective, nonrandomized double-blinded single cohort study at an academic health center. Patients with suspected OSA scheduled for an attended overnight Level I polysomnogram (PSG) and who consented to participate in the study wore the SleepStrip device at home the night after the PSG. The apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) determined by PSG was compared with the results of the SleepStrip recording. RESULTS: Thirty-seven patients with a mean age of 52.1 +/- 12.2 years and mean body mass index of 35.7 +/- 5.2 participated in the study. The overall agreement between the AHI and the SleepStrip results using Cohen's Kappa value was 0.139 (P = 0.19). The sensitivity and specificity of the SleepStrip for diagnosing severe OSA when the AHI was >40 were 33.3% and 95% (P = 0.05). When the AHI was >25, the SleepStrip sensitivity and specificity were 43.8% and 81.3% (P = 0.26). The sensitivity and specificity of the SleepStrip for diagnosing OSA in patients with an AHI >15 were 54.6% and 70%, respectively (P = 0.26). CONCLUSION: The SleepStrip has a low correlation with the AHI as measured by PSG. Further studies are needed before this device can be recommended as a screening tool for the diagnosis of OSA. EBM RATING: B-2b.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Pulmonary function testing and extreme environments.

Millions of people worldwide engage in leisure or occupational activities in extreme environments. These environments entail health risks even for normal subjects. The presence of lung disease, or other conditions, further predisposes to illness or injury. Patients who have lung conditions should, but often do not, consult with their pulmonary clinicians before traveling. Normal subjects, including elderly or deconditioned adults, may be referred to pulmonologists for evaluation of risk prior to exposure. Other patients may present for consultations after complications occur. Pulmonary function testing before or after exposure can assist physicians counseling patients about the likelihood of complications.

Adaptation, Physiological↗