Pathology · single question
How do you definitively assess whether a patient has obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)?
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. Polysomnography (an attended overnight sleep study)
Polysomnography is the gold-standard diagnostic test for OSA. It records airflow, respiratory effort, oxygen saturation, EEG, and EMG to calculate the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), which grades severity. Home sleep apnea tests (a limited form of this) are an accepted alternative for uncomplicated suspected OSA, but in-lab polysomnography remains the reference standard.