OSA+ - Multimodal Signal Analysis for Unobtrusive Characterization of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA+)
From 01-01-2016 to 31-12-2020
Description
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep-related breathing disorder, characterized by intermittent disruptions of normal breathing patterns during sleep. Its prevalence is increasing [1], [2], and around 100 million people suffer from OSA worldwide [3]. OSA is an important cause of increased cardiovascular risk [4], [5] and even all-cause mortality [6], [7].
Polysomnography (PSG) is the gold standard for diagnosis of OSA [8], [9]. Yet it requires costly sleep center facilities, overnight hospitalization, and instrumentation that may disrupt the normal sleep pattern of patients. PSG is not suitable as a population screening tool; while it is estimated that nearly 90% of OSA patients remain undiagnosed, in particular for mild cases unaware at an early stage [10]. Also, PSG has limited predictive value of cardiovascular risk and correlates poorly with OSA therapy outcome.
Taken together, there is a clear need for better characterization of OSA patients to enable early detection, cardiovascular risk stratification, and treatment selection and monitoring. To this end it is essential that measurements are unobtrusive so that patients can be observed for a prolonged period in an unsupervised home environment and without disturbing normal sleep patterns.
We aim to (1) enable reliable OSA screening with unobtrusive measurements, and (2) characterize OSA patients beyond existing markers for improved cardiovascular risk assessment and treatment guidance.
We will use photoplethysmography (PPG) [11], respiratory sounds (such as snoring) [12], as well as ballistocardiography (BCG) [13]. The analysis of these unobtrusive measurements is challenging due to their intrinsic uncertainties and artefacts, and due to the unsupervised settings in which they originate. To deal with these challenges, we will use a probabilistic signal analysis approach that exploits pathophysiological prior knowledge, and where needed combine multiple measurement modalities.
The ultimate goal is to develop a reliable sleep platform that can be used in a home environment, which will herald a new era in OSA diagnosis and treatment for a large population. Precise characterization of OSA patients may also improve our understanding of the underlying pathophysiology; and can help prioritize patients for treatment, ultimately reducing their morbidity and mortality.
The proposed project will build on the unique expertise of the project team in unobtrusive sensing, signal processing, biomedical data analysis, physiological modeling, and OSA diagnosis and treatment.
Team
- Sabine Van Huffel, Co-promoter
- Bertien Buyse, Co-promoter (External)
- Carolina Varon Perez, Co-promoter
- J. W. M. Bergmans, Promoter (External)
Financing
Funding: IWT - Agentschap voor Innovatie door Wetenschap en Technologie
Program/Grant Type: IWT other - Other IWT Grants
Events
2/09/2024:
PhD defense - Martijn Oldenhof
Machine Learning for Advanced Chemical Analysis and Structure Recognition in Drug Discovery
3/09/2024:
Meet the Jury Igor Tetko on Advanced Machine Learning in Drug Discovery
12/09/2024:
Multimodal analysis of cell-free DNA for sensitive cancer detection in low-coverage and low-sample settings
Seminar by Antoine Passemiers
News
STADIUS Alumni Herman Verrelst – new CEO of Biocartis
08 June 2017
Herman Verrelst, the founder of KU Leuven spin-off Cartagenia, who has been working in Silicon Valley, US for the last few years will be returning to Belgium to follow the steps of Rudi Pauwels as CEO of the Belgian diagnostic company, Biocartis.
Supporting healthcare policymaking via machine learning – batteries included!
29 May 2017
STADIUS takes the lead in the data analytics efforts in an ambitious European Project MIDAS.
Marc Claesen gives an interview about his PhD for the magazine of the Faculty of Engineering Sciences "Geniaal"
10 February 2017
Did you know that in Belgium approximately one third of type 2 diabetes patients are unaware of their condition?
Joos Vandewalle is nieuwe voorzitter KVAB
09 October 2016
Op 5 oktober 2016 heeft de Algemene Vergadering van de Academie KVAB Joos Vandewalle verkozen tot voorzitter van de KVAB.