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Helix Wesper: The Most Advanced Data Analysis Solution
Completed by Dr. Chelsie Rohrscheib
chelsie@wesper.co
Jan 06, 2023
The study recruited a cohort of participants, a subset of whom exhibited moderate to severe OSA, characterized by an apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) exceeding 15. Prior to analysis, individuals falling within this category were excluded to isolate the impact of the mattress intervention on those with milder OSA and without significant sleep-disordered breathing. Acknowledging the multifaceted nature of sleep quality assessment, the study employed a comprehensive set of metrics including total sleep time (TST), sleep efficiency (SE), wake time after sleep onset (WASO), and distribution of sleep stages (REM, Deep, and Light sleep). By meticulously controlling for confounding variables and considering the adjustment period inherent to novel sleep environments, the study aimed to provide a nuanced understanding of the intervention's effects.
Initial findings reveal nuanced outcomes among participants, with a subset experiencing significant changes in TST, SE, and WASO following the mattress intervention. Notably, while a majority exhibited no significant alterations in these metrics, a subset demonstrated both improvements and decrements in sleep parameters. Such variability underscores the complexity of sleep quality evaluation and highlights the need for individualized approaches in intervention studies. This article presents a detailed analysis of the study's methodology and preliminary findings, shedding light on the intricate interplay between mattress intervention, sleep quality, and OSA severity.
8 out of 15 participants had tests with apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) scores that were indicative of sleep apnea. I recommend removing participants with AHI scores >15, as these individuals are unlikely to have sleep improvement without first treating the underlying sleep disorder.
It’s good practice to control for health and environmental factors when evaluating if the application of a specific variable, in this case a new mattress, will improve sleep quality. Additionally, there is typically an “adjustment” period, in which participants are allowed to adjust to newly introduced factors because a sudden change in sleep environment is well understood to make sleep temporarily worse. Finally, it is well understood in clinical sleep medicine that improvements can take months, and therefore multi-month analysis is typically recommended. Results cannot be guaranteed when the previous experimental conditions are not considered.
Participants that fell within the moderate to severe range of OSA (AHI >15) were removed from analysis (n=4), leaving a total of 11 participants.
Metrics evaluated are key indices of sleep quality and insomnia. These include:
- Total sleep time
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Sleep efficiency: The percentage of time asleep vs. the time attempting to sleep.
Number of awakenings - Wake time after sleep onset: The total amount of time the participant was awake after falling asleep for the first time. This is indicative of poor sleep quality and insomnia.
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REM, Deep, and Light sleep. Typically we see more light sleep in individuals with poor sleep quality.
Total Sleep Time
Of the 11 participants, 45.5% had no significant change in their TST, 36.3% had a significant reduction in their TST, and 18.1% had a significant increase in their TST.
Sleep Efficiency
Of the 11 participants,81.8% had no significant change in their SE, 9.09% had a significant reduction in their TST, and 9.09% had a significant increase in their TST.
Wake Time After Sleep Onset
Of the 11 participants,81.8% had no significant change in their WASO, 9.09% had a significant reduction in their WASO, and 9.09% had a significant increase in their WASO.