C5.3 Sleep studies

Specialist referral is recommended for COPD patients suspected of having a coexistent sleep disorder or with hypercapnia or pulmonary hypertension in the absence of daytime hypoxaemia, right heart failure or polycythaemia. Continuous overnight oximetry (with appropriate sampling frequency and averaging time) may be used to assess a need for overnight domiciliary oxygen therapy, and may be indicated in patients receiving long-term domiciliary oxygen therapy to assess whether hypoxaemia has been adequately corrected.