Technology has come a long way in recent years. Imaging especially has had great advancements and has impacted the efficiency with which physicians are able to diagnose and treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Utilizing 3D facial photography, the study in this article predicted OSA patients with 89% accuracy. These diagnoses were determined using a technique that identifies landmarks on the face and neck. Increased neck width and retrognathia are common indicators that were taken into consideration when predetermining the landmarks. Additionally, the length and width of the jaw and face, and distance between the eyes were also contributing factors. As we know, these structural features allude to an obstructed airway.
More testing must be done to fully attain accurate data with this tool, but if used in conjunction with other devices (ex: digital health tracker or another phone app), this could be a widely used, user-friendly, and cost-effective device for the future of healthcare.
This rings true of the time that we’re in right now with the Covid-19 pandemic. Physicians have been operating via Telemed, and virtual visits and zoom meetings are being used daily. Obstructive Sleep Apnea continues to be a huge health problem, so simple and accurate screening tools to mitigate the risk effectively is certainly welcome.
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