Philips Electronics India Limited (PEIL) will assist hospitals and clinics across Mumbai and Delhi in establishing 30 new sleep labs by the end of 2009. These sleep labs will help physicians accurately diagnose sleep disorders. The company will provide technology, facilities and training. The objective is to establish 130 sleep labs across India by the end of 2010 in partnership with healthcare institutions, doubling the total number of sleep labs available across the country.

The sleep labs offer obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients and others with sleeping disorders, the means to evaluate their sleeping patterns and to diagnose their sleep disorders. A sample study known as polysomnogram or PSG is conducted on a patient in a lab setting and is painless. A sleep lab generally contains a complete diagnostic system.

The patient is monitored with various sensors attached to the patient’s head, chest and legs. These sensors collect data which are then used to determine the type and severity of the sleep disorder. If the patient is diagnosed with OSA, then the AHI (apnea hypopnea) index is generated which quantifies sleep apnea severity. The AHI index guides the physician regarding whether the problem is mild, moderate or severe so a treatment decision can be made. Often the patient is put on a Philips Respironics CPAP with technologies such as (C-flex, Bi-Flex and A-Flex) which ensures that the upper airway stays open continual airflow throughout the night thereby yielding a healthier sleep.

Philips will assist the hospitals and clinics in setting up the sleep labs by providing sleep lab equipment such as the ALICE 5 and ALICE PDX for clinical training to physicians and specialists. The equipment will also be used for training on software diagnosis and reporting to general practitioners and technicians. In addition, Philips will also assist by raising awareness of sleep disorders. These sleep labs will be named by the hospitals and physicians who own them and the new sleep labs will be located in leading hospitals and clinics in Mumbai and New Delhi.

The Philips also commissioned a Sleep Survey which was undertaken by The Nielsen Company last month. The survey was conducted in a non-clinical environment and it surveyed approximately 5600 respondents from urban towns with population 5 lakh and above, in the 35 to 65 years age group.

According to the results of the Philips Sleep Survey, 93 per cent of Indians are sleep deprived; getting less than the eight hours of sleep they need per day. Around 11 per cent of Indians took leave from work because of their lack of sleep. The Philips Sleep Survey revealed that 58 per cent of Indians felt their work suffered from lack of adequate sleep with 11 per cent actually falling asleep at work. The survey also indicated a disturbing fact that 14 per cent of Indians exhibit pauses in their breathing at night, anywhere from one to more than three times per week.

“Sleep is not optional – it is absolutely critical to people’s health,” said Anjan Bose, vice president and business head, Philips Healthcare, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal. “The consequences of not sleeping enough are well documented. Inadequate sleep can contribute to weight gain, diabetes, high blood pressure and even heart attacks. The chronically sleep deprived also have a huge economic impact; in addition to significantly reduced productivity their condition may result in industrial or road accidents,” he added.