Norwegian AI Directory
Description:
Sleep apnea is a prevalent nocturnal breathing disorder and causes a high burden to the affected
individuals, as well as to society and economy. However, current diagnostic methods for sleep apnea are
complicated and labour-intensive processes involving various shortcomings related to measuring, analysing
and reporting of data. In this research project we introduce novel diagnostic approaches for sleep apnea
utilizing minimally sleep-disturbing wearable sensors and state-of-the art artificial intelligence and machine
learning solutions. This responds the growing pressure to move most sleep studies from sleep lab to home
and to reduce the workload and costs related to manual analysis of nocturnal sleep recordings. We aim to
develop new metrics which correlate better with the disease severity, related daytime symptoms and risk of
severe health consequences than the presently used diagnostic parameters. The project is based on large
international patient pools collected and analyzed in collaboration with world top level clinicians, physicists
and engineers in Norway, Iceland and Finland. By adapting modern artificial intelligence techniques, we can
identify such features from polysomnographic signals that could be used as novel biomarkers to personalize
sleep apnea subtypes and severity. The better understanding of sleep apnea subtypes and underlying
pathological mechanisms is crucial while developing personalized approaches to disease management. The
outcomes of this project can lead to paradigm shift in the diagnostics and treatment of sleep apnea and have
significant positive impact in Nordic health and socioeconomy. Wearable sleep monitoring systems and
sophisticated artificial intelligence based solutions could open global scalable business potential for industry
partners operating at medical device sector as well as for health centers and sleep clinics by offering
telemedicine sleep diagnostic and treatment follow-up services.
Project leader: Harald Hrubos-Strøm
Started: 2019
Ends: 2023
Category: Helse Sør-Øst RHF
Sector: Helseforetak
Budget: 7469000
Institution: AKERSHUS UNIVERSITETSSYKEHUS HF
Address: Lørenskog