In early 2024, Tetyana Kendzerska, MD, PhD, will begin a retrospective analysis of sleep-disordered breathing assessments using the funds awarded for the American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) Foundation (now CHEST philanthropy) and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) Foundation Research Grant in Sleep Medicine.
The grant, jointly supported by CHEST and the AASM Foundation, funds research that addresses topics that advance sleep medicine and, ultimately, improve patient outcomes and overall health.
Dr. Kendzerska’s research, “Utility of Inpatient Assessment for Sleep-Disordered Breathing: A Retrospective Study of Health Administrative Data,” seeks to evaluate the outcomes of inpatient versus outpatient sleep tests.
“According to the Canadian Health Measures Survey, up to 30% of Canadians were found to be at risk of moderate to severe OSA; however, only a staggering 6% reported a physician’s diagnosis,” says Dr. Kendzerska. “The issue at hand is that there are drawbacks to both inpatient and outpatient sleep tests—one being [that they are] logistically complicated, labor-intensive and high-cost, given the medical complexity of the hospitalized individuals, and the other being [that they are] affected by the challenges of accessing appropriate care due to long wait times and frequent failures of communication. Our research will thoroughly review cost, hospital visits, OSA treatment initiation and overall outcomes to understand the usefulness of inpatient sleep tests and to identify individuals who could benefit the most.”
“Sleep is so essential to one’s ability to function in society, and, yet, life-threatening sleep disorders go undiagnosed due to lack of access, resources or prioritization,” says Jack D. Buckley, MD, MPH, FCCP, President of CHEST. “Research like this that deeply reviews the data to prove medical necessity is what will help to close some of these gaps contributing to issues within health care.”
This is the third grant awarded as part of the societies’ multiyear partnership. The previous grant recipients were Marta Kaminska, MD, for her project, “Long-term non-invasive ventilation in COPD—impact on health-care utilization,” and Gonzalo Labarca, MD, for his research, “Phenotyping Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Latin American Women: The Latin American Sleep Network.”
“This strategic and collaborative partnership with the CHEST Foundation benefits communities, patients and investigators. Dr. Kendzerska’s project recognizes the importance of sleep care across different health care settings and underscores the importance of sleep as a pillar that supports health and well-being,” says R. Nisha Aurora, MD, MHS, FAASM, President of the AASM Foundation. “Dr. Kendzerska’s work will help us identify, understand and address current limitations in access to sleep health care, potentially reducing health care inequities.”
To be eligible for the CHEST and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine Foundation Research Grant in Sleep Medicine, applicants must be a member of either CHEST or the AASM. Qualified applicants for this and other available grants should visit www.chestnet.org/grants (next grant cycle opens in February) or https://foundation.aasm.org/award-programs/ to apply.
About the American College of Chest Physicians
The American College of Chest Physicians® (CHEST) is the global leader in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of chest diseases. Its mission is to champion advanced clinical practice, education, communication and research in chest medicine. It serves as an essential connection to clinical knowledge and resources for its 22,000+ members from around the world who provide patient care in pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine. For information about the American College of Chest Physicians, and its flagship journal CHEST®, visit chestnet.org.
About the AASM Foundation
Founded in 1998, the AASM Foundation is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) charitable and scientific organization that was established by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM). The AASM Foundation has invested in the future of sleep medicine by supporting more than 300 grants totaling $23.6 million in funding. The AASM Foundation’s portfolio includes research awards for all career stages, community awards and training awards.
