[Use of a screening device for sleep apnea in clinical practice].

About 2-4% of adults suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which is the most common sleep-related breathing disorder (SRBD). Repetitive obstructions of the upper airway mean that it is associated with hypertension and an elevated cardio- and cerebrovascular morbidity, which can be lowered by means of effective therapy. These patients cannot be treated correctly unless they are identified early in the course of the condition. Therefore, this study evaluated the use of the microMESAM screening device (known up to December 2005 as the "ApneaLink") in 61 patients in whom SRBD was suspected. The device proved reliable and practical in application.