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Imagine being able to diagnose sleep apnea without waiting or using complex equipment—just with your smartphone. This is exactly what the French startup Apneal offers, leveraging AI to simplify the diagnosis of this often-overlooked condition, which affects over 900 million people globally. This innovation could reshape how we address this largely underdiagnosed public health issue.
A Public Health Crisis Underestimated
Sleep apnea is one of the most economically impactful health conditions, following diseases like cancer, diabetes, and coronary heart disease. Yet 80% of cases remain undiagnosed, leading to a reduced quality of life, higher risk of accidents, and cardiovascular problems. Early, easy diagnosis is crucial.
“Assessing sleep quality is essential in managing psychiatric patients. But we still lack an easy-to-use diagnostic tool for everyday clinical practice.”
– Dr. Franz Hozer, Psychiatrist.
Simplifying Access to Diagnosis
Currently, diagnosing sleep apnea requires complex logistics and expensive equipment, with wait times stretching up to several months. However, this exam needs to be better integrated into everyday medical practice.
Apneal: Transforming Smartphones into Medical Devices
Apneal uses the smartphone’s sensors (microphone, accelerometer) to record breathing sounds and movements during sleep. AI then analyzes the data to detect abnormal respiratory events, like apneas, generating a detailed report for healthcare providers.
The benefits of Apneal include:
- Accuracy: Comparable to home-based ventilatory polygraphy devices.
- Instant access: No waiting to conduct the exam or receive results.
- Telemedicine: Perfectly suited for remote healthcare, improving access for all.
Scientific Validation and Global Recognition
Apneal is built on strong scientific foundations, with multiple published studies and three patents. An initial clinical study at Bichat Hospital (APHP) confirmed its accuracy, and ongoing trials in Europe are further validating the tool.
A Team of Experts Driving Innovation
Founded by Séverin Benizri and Guillaume Cathelain, Apneal is supported by a team of medical and scientific experts specializing in sleep medicine, psychiatry, and AI. This could pave the way for broader, faster sleep apnea diagnostics.
With Apneal’s solution, sleep apnea diagnosis may soon become as easy as using your smartphone, revolutionizing patient care and improving health outcomes worldwide.
