Suspect sleep apnea? This home test may help you find out

At-home testing has made evaluation more accessible for eligible adults, and Lofta offers a simple path from screening to an overnight study and physician-reviewed results.

Suspect sleep apnea? Here’s how to be tested at home

If snoring has turned into a family joke, especially after sharing a room while traveling, don’t ignore what someone else notices during the night.

Ongoing snoring along with fatigue or observed breathing pauses can be a reason to speak with a healthcare professional about obstructive sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is also easy to overlook. A recent medical review estimates that 90% of people with obstructive sleep apnea are still undiagnosed.

For some adults, getting checked no longer means spending a night in a sleep lab. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine says a home sleep apnea test is one diagnostic option for uncomplicated adults who have an elevated risk of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea.

That is the appeal of Lofta Home Sleep Apnea Test. The service combines telemedicine screening, an at-home test and physician-reviewed results in one process. Lofta’s site lists the test at $189, discounted to $132.30 at the time referenced.

What is the Lofta at-home sleep apnea test?

Lofta sends a WatchPAT One kit designed to gather sleep data while you spend the night in your own bed.

According to Lofta, the kit includes a wrist-worn WatchPAT One device, a chest sensor and a finger probe. The company says the device measures sleep time and sleep architecture, and that its technology has been validated against polysomnography, the standard lab-based sleep study.

Home Sleep Apnea Test by Lofta

This straightforward test shifts several steps of sleep apnea evaluation into a mainly at-home process, including delivery of the test and physician interpretation of the results.

Best for: Adults with possible OSA who pass Lofta's clinical screening and prefer an at-home testing option. Save 30% at Lofta

Just as important, this is not meant to be a do-it-yourself diagnosis based on an app score. A physician is part of the process.

How to get tested for sleep apnea at home with Lofta

1. Order the test and complete a telemedicine screening

After ordering, Lofta says you will have a brief video visit to determine whether the home test is appropriate for you.

2. Take the test at home

Once the WatchPAT One arrives, you wear its sensors overnight and sleep in your own bed.

That convenience is one of the biggest differences between home testing and traditional polysomnography, which takes place overnight in a sleep center.

3. A sleep physician interprets the results

Lofta says a board-certified sleep physician reviews the data after your test.

4. Review your results and next steps

Lofta offers a results walkthrough and can help users consider treatment options if they are diagnosed with sleep apnea. Its site lists CPAP therapy and oral tech among possible treatment paths.

A prescription is not guaranteed just because you bought a test. Treatment should depend on the physician’s findings.

Who should consider getting tested for sleep apnea?

One situation identified by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine is excessive daytime sleepiness combined with at least two of these three factors:

• Habitual loud snoring
• Witnessed apnea, gasping or choking during sleep
• Diagnosed hypertension

So if your partner keeps waking you because your snoring is so loud, that is worth taking seriously. If they are seeing you stop breathing or gasp in your sleep, that is an even stronger reason to discuss testing with a healthcare professional.

Is an at-home sleep apnea test right for everyone?

No, and that distinction matters.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine considers polysomnography the standard diagnostic test for adults in whom obstructive sleep apnea is suspected. Its guidelines allow either polysomnography or home testing for appropriate, uncomplicated adults at increased risk for moderate to severe OSA.

Home testing is also not the end of the process when results do not make sense. Technical guidance says that when a home study is negative, inconclusive or technically inadequate, polysomnography should be performed to rule out OSA.

In other words, do not assume one negative home test fully explains ongoing symptoms.

How much does the Lofta sleep test cost?

Lofta lists its regular price at $189 and on sale for $132.30 (30% off) at the time referenced. The Lofta package includes the at-home testing equipment, a brief telemedicine visit, physician review and help interpreting the results.