The American Sleep Apnea Association is dedicated to promoting research and helping patients have a voice in the future direction of that research to find new treatments, and ultimately cures for sleep apnea.
Below are descriptions of the ASAA’s research projects, and a list of services that will help you find clinical trials in which you may wish to participate.
AWAKE Sleep Apnea: Raising Voices for Progress in Treatment and Care
In 2018, the ASAA conducted a survey of 5,630 sleep apnea patients, asking 32 detailed questions about their experiences with sleep apnea. Patients were drawn from the ASAA’s online network, and through patient-generated-data organization Evidation. We shared the results of this survey at a patient-focused conference with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in June 2018. The conference included two panels of 5 patients each, and audience discussion of the most prominent topics. You can read a detailed analysis of the survey and conference findings in our A.W.A.K.E. Sleep Apnea Report.
Review Project Poster Here: Listening to the Patient Voice
O₂VERLAP Study
Did you know that about 60% of people with both COPD and obstructive sleep apnea (known as “Overlap Syndrome”) are not using their continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) mask as prescribed? This is dangerous because it creates an increased risk for flare-ups and hospitalizations. The COPD Foundation and ASAA want to know if an interactive online classroom will help people living with Overlap Syndrome use their sleep masks properly. Registration for the study is closed. We would like to thank the more than 1,300 people from around the country who were interested and participated in the study. The ASAA will share the results of this research through our online platforms as soon as is it available. To learn more about the O2verlap Study click here.
Download the Full Report
The O2VERLAP Study: High Cpap Use Levels Found In Overlap Syndrome (OSA And COPD) Patients
SleepHealth Mobile App Study
SleepHealth was a pioneering personalized tool that helped:
- gain greater insight into sleep habits and sleep issues,
- learn how sleep is associated with other conditions people may have, and
- help people take charge of their sleep health.
The app, powered by Apple’s ResearchKit and IBM Watson Health Cloud, provided daily check-ins to track daytime alertness, and it paired with the Apple watch to track daily physical activity and sleep data. The app also provided checklists and tips for getting a good night’s sleep.
Review the Project Poster Here: SleepHealth App
Review the Poster about The Psychomotor Vigilance Task Here
Review Sage SleepHealth Research Portal
Nature SleepHealth Data Descriptor
Evidation Web-Based Sleep Study Research
Can an effective sleep study be conducted entirely online? Can online recruitment help studies speed up recruitment and increase patient participation? In 2017, the ASAA collaborated with Evidation Health, a tech company specializing in online tracking of patient generated data, to launch a research study to answer these questions. The aim of this study was to investigate a method for speeding up the recruitment process and maximizing participant engagement in sleep research using a novel approach, the Achievement Studies platform created by Evidation Health, Inc. Specifically, the study examined the relationship between participant sleep and daytime function. Ongoing data collection was concluded on March 31, 2018, and the researchers are now engaging in data analysis. The ASAA will share the results of this research through our online platforms as soon as is it available.
Review the Project Poster Here: Evidation Accelerating Research
Finding Clinical Trials
Participating in clinical trials is a way to use your expertise as a sleep apnea patient to advance the scientific understanding of sleep apnea and related conditions, and possibly help advance new treatments. The following sites can help you find clinical trials in which you may want to participate.
ClinicalTrials.gov
ClinicalTrials.gov is a Web-based resource that provides patients, their family members, health care professionals, researchers, and the public with easy access to information on publicly and privately supported clinical studies on a wide range of diseases and conditions.
Search Clinical Trials
Search Clinical Trials is a free service designed to help people find clinical trials that are relevant to their needs. CISCRP staff will work with you to understand your needs and our staff will help you find local clinical trials in your community, or as far as you would be comfortable traveling.
Center Watch
CenterWatch.com allows you to search for clinical trials and Sign up for a FREE service where they will send you automatic email notifications as soon as a clinical trial is posted in the medical category you’re interested in.
