Home sleep apnea test Belgium | VivaRespire

Home Sleep Apnea Tests: Complete Guide for Belgium

Suspected sleep apnea? Diagnosis does not necessarily require a hospital night. Reliable tests can be done at home or with simple questionnaires. This guide explains all available options in Belgium.

How to get a sleep apnea test?

Consult your GP: describe your symptoms (fatigue, snoring, sleepiness). Ask your sleep partner to note their nocturnal observations.
Screening questionnaires: your doctor may use ESS, STOP-BANG or Berlin questionnaire to assess your apnea risk.
Specialist referral: if risk is high, your GP refers you to a pulmonologist or sleep specialist who prescribes the appropriate sleep test.
Sleep study: ambulatory polygraphy at home or polysomnography in a sleep center, depending on your profile.

Ambulatory ventilatory polygraphy (home test)

The ambulatory polygraphy is the most commonly prescribed sleep apnea screening test in Belgium. It is done at home, in your own bed. The portable device records overnight: airflow (nasal cannula), thoracic and abdominal movements (bands), SpO2 (finger oximeter), heart rate, and sleep position.

Advantages: comfort of your own bed, quick results, less expensive than PSG, reimbursed by Belgian health insurance
Limitations: fewer parameters than PSG (no EEG), may slightly underestimate AHI, not suitable for complex cases

Ambulatory polygraphy is sufficient to diagnose sleep apnea in the vast majority of cases. Polysomnography (in a sleep center) is reserved for complex cases, children, or inconclusive polygraphy results.

Polysomnography (PSG) in a sleep center

Polysomnography is the gold-standard sleep study. Performed overnight in an accredited sleep center under technician supervision. In addition to polygraphy parameters, it records: EEG (brain activity and sleep stages), EOG (eye movements), EMG (muscle activity), posture, and snoring microphone.

Overnight oximetry

Overnight oximetry is even simpler: you only wear a finger oximeter overnight, continuously recording SpO2 and heart rate. Useful as a first-level screening for high-risk patients, but alone it is not sufficient to diagnose sleep apnea - it must be followed by polygraphy or PSG.

Screening questionnaires

Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS)

8 daily situations measuring daytime sleepiness. Score 0-24. Score ≥ 11: excessive sleepiness requiring medical evaluation. Score ≥ 16: severe sleepiness requiring urgent consultation.

STOP-BANG questionnaire

8 Yes/No questions: Snoring, Tired, Observed apneas, Pressure (hypertension), BMI > 35, Age > 50, Neck > 40 cm, Gender male. Score ≥ 3: intermediate risk. Score ≥ 5: high risk.

Berlin questionnaire

3 categories (snoring, sleepiness/fatigue, hypertension/BMI). High risk in ≥ 2 categories indicates significant apnea risk. Sensitivity ~86%.

What to do after results?

If your AHI/IAHO confirms moderate to severe sleep apnea (≥ 15/hour), your doctor will propose treatment. The gold-standard treatment is CPAP.

The INAMI/RIZIV convention provides CPAP equipment through an approved sleep center. VivaRespire offers an alternative: buy your CPAP directly to own it. Details: CPAP reimbursement in Belgium.

Browse our Auto CPAP devices and CPAP masks.