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COPD and Sleep Apnea: Is There a Link? 

Diagnosis of Both Obstructive Sleep Apnea and COPD

There are several tests that can be used to diagnose OSA and COPD. The most appropriate tests depend on whether you’ve already been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, COPD, or neither.

Tests include:

  • Overnight oximetry: This test involves measuring your blood oxygen levels overnight. It will help determine if you experience low blood oxygen levels during sleep.
  • Sleep apnea test: In-house sleep apnea test also known as polysomnography (PSG). This is the standard test used to diagnose sleep apnea. It measures multiple factors like your breathing patterns, blood oxygen levels, and stages of sleep and body position. An alternative for select patients is a home sleep test (HST), which means patients can sleep in their own bed.
  • Arterial blood gas (ABG): This test helps examine the lungs. Checking how well they are able to move oxygen into the blood and remove carbon dioxide.