Up to 6 months of waiting to obtain an appointment for a sleep study in Belgium

The cause? Consequently, “”One of the first points is that the European population is gaining weight. In addition, And excess weight is a preponderant factor “ in the appearance and severity of sleep apnea. Furthermore, “”The more the Belgian population will become obese. Similarly, the more apnea there will be “underlines the referring doctor of the CHC. Moreover, Another risk factor is age, due to the respiratory tract that sags more during sleep. Furthermore, Anomalies in the ENT sphere are also part of the etiologies of sleeping sleep apnea syndrome.

If you see “A fashion effect” To pass this type of examination due in particular that we talk more about television than before. Nevertheless, the neurologist observes a better awareness allows faster orientation. However, “If you have hypertension, go to a cardiologist and discover heart problems, he up 6 months waiting obtain will send you to us.” And apnea, “We find them in all patients, whether they are 17 or 86 years old”. For example, Sleep disorders are better known today, while before, they were often considered normal. For example, “If you are considering weight loss with a diet, dietitians will ask you to take a sleep test. Nevertheless, The obese person who wishes to undergo an operation must go through the sleep test to be reimbursed.”

One night in the hospital for a refunded treatment – Up 6 months waiting obtain

Not all hospitals are housed in the same brand. The operating mode differs from one sleep center to another. If some Walloon hospitals or even private clinics recommend home tests, this is not the case at CHC.

“The diagnosis can only be made by polysomnography at the hospital”insists neurologist Pierre Bottin. Because to be able to claim the reimbursement of the up 6 months waiting obtain CPAP (95 % of cases). the reference treatment for sleep apnea, which consists in instilling air in the airways during sleep, “This systematically requires a night of exams in the sleep laboratory in a hospital, to confirm the diagnosis”. Another night in the hospital is most often considered necessary to adjust the treatment. The other treatment is the mandibular advanced orthosis, prescribed for moderate or severe sleep apnea.

Nearly 190,000 sleep apnea diagnosed and treated in 2024

Some hospitals play transparency, as at the large Charleroi hospital. If you propose to test your sleep at home via the Brizzy. a portable device, it is clear that up 6 months waiting obtain “This examination does not replace with a first diagnostic night in the sleep laboratory”. “One night is to be expected if the results of the Brizzy are positive.” Find out.

“A test to reduce the number of apneas”

At 68. Jacqueline Martin (from Hannut, in the province of Liège) knows how much such a sleep study can improve the quality of life.

“I have been component with a CPAP mask for a year. a half” And can no longer do without it. “Wherever I go, this device accompanies me. It is up 6 months waiting obtain essential.”

Before treatment. according to the polysomnography she passed, the sixties stopped breathing 24 times per hour, “So a whole every 3 minutes”she summarizes. “Now, I only make 0.8 apnea per hour and sometimes two apnea per hour.”

It was the cardiologist who pushed Ms. Martin to make an appointment at the André Renard clinic. in Herstal (in the province of Liège), to take a sleep test there “because of irregular heartbeat”she says. “I was able to get an appointment fairly quickly. There was not as much waiting as is the case today.”

If it has been accommodated today to the CPAP. it had to “Several nights to get used to the port of the aircraft”even if “The connection hose is long and therefore allows mobility during sleep”. After each night, the patient can connect to an application to obtain the report of her up 6 months waiting obtain night.