Artificial intelligence in sleep medicine: Present and future

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) has impacted many areas of healthcare. AI in healthcare uses machine learning, deep learning, and natural language processing to analyze copious amounts of healthcare data and yield valuable outcomes. In the sleep medicine field, a large amount of physiological data is gathered compared to other branches of medicine. This field is primed for innovations with the help of AI. A good quality of sleep is crucial for optimal health. About one billion people are estimated to have obstructive sleep apnea worldwide, but it is difficult to diagnose and treat all the people with limited resources. Sleep apnea is one of the major contributors to poor health. Most of the sleep apnea patients remain undiagnosed. Those diagnosed with sleep apnea have difficulty getting it optimally treated due to several factors, and AI can help in this situation. AI can also help in the diagnosis and management of other sleep disorders such as insomnia, hypersomnia, parasomnia, narcolepsy, shift work sleep disorders, periodic leg movement disorders, etc. In this manuscript, we aim to address three critical issues about the use of AI in sleep medicine: (1) How can AI help in diagnosing and treating sleep disorders? (2) How can AI fill the gap in the care of sleep disorders? and (3) What are the ethical and legal considerations of using AI in sleep medicine?