Saudi study develops AI-powered sleep apnea detection
In a pioneering scientific step that enhances the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's standing in advanced medical research, a recent Saudi study has successfully developed an innovative artificial intelligence-based model for detecting obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This achievement, led by Dr. Malak Al-Murshid from the University Sleep Medicine and Research Center at the College of Medicine and University Medical City, King Saud University, represents a significant advancement in the medical diagnosis of this common disorder.
Details of the technological innovation
The results of this study were published in the prestigious scientific journal "Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence," revealing the development of a "deep learning model based on the Transformer." The ingenuity of this model lies in its ability to diagnose using only a single biomarker—a unidirectional electrocardiogram (ECG)—thus eliminating traditional complexities. The research team employed intelligent positional coding techniques via an autoencoder, enabling the direct processing of raw data without the need for complex, time-consuming preprocessing.
Background of the disease and challenges of traditional diagnosis
Obstructive sleep apnea is a serious health disorder affecting more than a billion people worldwide. Its danger lies in its strong association with serious health complications such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke if not diagnosed and treated early. Traditionally, diagnosis relies on polysomnography (PSG), a complex procedure requiring hospitalization, the connection of numerous wires and sensors, and meticulous manual analysis by specialists. This makes it costly, time-consuming, and a barrier to screening large numbers of patients.
Superior results and future significance
The results of the Saudi study showed that the proposed model significantly outperformed previous research by 13% in accuracy (F1 score). More importantly, the model was able to detect apnea with an accuracy of up to one second, providing clinicians with a precise and detailed view of the patient's breathing pattern. This innovation not only reduces cost and time but also paves the way for the development of wearable devices that allow for highly efficient monitoring of patients in their homes, even with data interference.
Saudi leadership in sleep medicine
This research underscores King Saud University's global leadership, having ranked 18th globally in sleep medicine research over the past five years. This excellence was further highlighted by Professor Ahmed Bahammam, Professor of Sleep Medicine at the university's College of Medicine, who was ranked 5th globally among specialists in the same field, according to the 2025 ScholarGPS ranking. This reflects the high quality of Saudi research output and its direct impact on improving quality of life and healthcare globally.
