Classification of Welch Periodograms Using Deep Learning Methods: A Case Study on the Prediction of Sleep Apnea
Abstract
This study proposes a novel approach for the diagnosis of sleep apnea using deep learning analysis of Welch Pediograms derived from electrocardiogram (ECG) signals. Despite affecting between 3% and 17% of the general adult population, depending on diagnostic criteria used, sleep apnea remains underdiagnosed due to limitations in traditional diagnostic methods, particularly polysomnography, which is costly, requires specialized facilities, and may disrupt natural sleep patterns. Our research addresses these challenges by developing an automated diagnostic system that analyzes frequency spectrum variations in RR intervals through Welch Pediograms. These visualizations, derived from Holter monitor recordings, effectively capture the characteristic frequency-domain changes in heart rate variability associated with sleep apnea episodes. Using Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), our methodology processes these spectral representations to identify patterns indicative of sleep apnea. This approach offers significant advantages including non-invasive monitoring, home-based testing capability, and improved patient comfort. Our findings contribute to both the methodological development in sleep medicine and the practical implementation of accessible diagnostic tools for sleep apnea, potentially improving early detection rates and patient outcomes.
Keywords
Supporting Institution
İzmir Bakırçay University Artificial Intelligence in Health Application and Research Centre
Ethical Statement
There is no ethical violation.
Thanks
This study was developed under the roof of Izmir Bakırçay University Artificial Intelligence Studies in Health
Application and Research Centre and Amatis Information Technologies.
References
- [1] T. Young, P. Peppard, and D. Gottlieb, "Epidemiology of obstructive sleep apnea: a population health perspective," American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, vol. 165, no. 9, pp. 1217-1239, 2002, doi: 10.1164/rccm.2109080.
- [2] N. M. Punjabi, "The epidemiology of adult obstructive sleep apnea," Proceedings of the American Thoracic Society, vol. 5, no. 2, pp. 136-143, 2008, doi: 10.1513/pats.200709-155MG.
- [3] V. K. Somers, D. P. White, R. Amin, W. T. Abraham, F. Costa, A. Culebras, S. Daniels, J. S. Floras, C. E. Hunt, L. J. Olson, T. G. Pickering, R. Russell, M. Woo, and T. Young, "Sleep apnea and cardiovascular disease: an American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Foundation Scientific Statement," Circulation, vol. 118, no. 10, pp. 1080-1111, 2008, doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.107.189375.
- [4] P. Lévy, M. Kohler, W. T. McNicholas, F. Barbé, R. D. McEvoy, V. K. Somers, L. Lavie, and J. L. Pépin, "Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome," Nature Reviews Disease Primers, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 1-21, 2015, doi: 10.1038/nrdp.2015.15.
- [5] Senaratna, Chamara V., et al. "Prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea in the general population: a systematic review." Sleep medicine reviews 34 (2017): 70-81.K. A. Franklin and E. Lindberg, "Obstructive sleep apnea is a common disorder in the population—a review on the epidemiology of sleep apnea," Journal of Thoracic Disease, vol. 7, no. 8, pp. 1311-1322, 2015, doi: 10.3978/j.issn.2072-1439.2015.06.11.
- [6] V. K. Kapur, D. H. Auckley, S. Chowdhuri, D. C. Kuhlmann, R. Mehra, K. Ramar, and C. G. Harrod, "Clinical practice guideline for diagnostic testing for adult obstructive sleep apnea: an American Academy of Sleep Medicine clinical practice guideline," Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, vol. 13, no. 3, pp. 479-504, 2017, doi: 10.5664/jcsm.6506.
- [7] N. A. Collop, W. M. Anderson, B. Boehlecke, D. Claman, R. Goldberg, D. J. Gottlieb, D. Hudgel, M. Sateia, and R. Schwab, "Clinical guidelines for the use of unattended portable monitors in the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea in adult patients," Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, vol. 3, no. 7, pp. 737-747, 2007, doi: 10.5664/jcsm.27032.
- [8] C. A. Kushida, M. R. Littner, T. Morgenthaler, C. A. Alessi, D. Bailey, J. Coleman Jr, L. Friedman, M. Hirshkowitz, S. Kapen, M. Kramer, T. Lee-Chiong, D. L. Loube, J. Owens, J. P. Pancer, and M. Wise, "Practice parameters for the indications for polysomnography and related procedures: an update for 2005," Sleep, vol. 28, no. 4, pp. 499-521, 2005, doi: 10.1093/sleep/28.4.499.
Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Deep Learning, Health Informatics and Information Systems
Journal Section
Research Article
Publication Date
October 1, 2025
Submission Date
April 10, 2025
Acceptance Date
September 10, 2025
Published in Issue
Year 2025 Volume: 5 Number: 2
APA
Turan, E., & Er, O. (2025). Classification of Welch Periodograms Using Deep Learning Methods: A Case Study on the Prediction of Sleep Apnea. Artificial Intelligence Theory and Applications, 5(2), 33-48. https://izlik.org/JA54SF32PJ
AMA
1.Turan E, Er O. Classification of Welch Periodograms Using Deep Learning Methods: A Case Study on the Prediction of Sleep Apnea. AITA. 2025;5(2):33-48. https://izlik.org/JA54SF32PJ
Chicago
Turan, Emre, and Orhan Er. 2025. “Classification of Welch Periodograms Using Deep Learning Methods: A Case Study on the Prediction of Sleep Apnea”. Artificial Intelligence Theory and Applications 5 (2): 33-48. https://izlik.org/JA54SF32PJ.
EndNote
Turan E, Er O (October 1, 2025) Classification of Welch Periodograms Using Deep Learning Methods: A Case Study on the Prediction of Sleep Apnea. Artificial Intelligence Theory and Applications 5 2 33–48.
IEEE
[1]E. Turan and O. Er, “Classification of Welch Periodograms Using Deep Learning Methods: A Case Study on the Prediction of Sleep Apnea”, AITA, vol. 5, no. 2, pp. 33–48, Oct. 2025, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA54SF32PJ
ISNAD
Turan, Emre - Er, Orhan. “Classification of Welch Periodograms Using Deep Learning Methods: A Case Study on the Prediction of Sleep Apnea”. Artificial Intelligence Theory and Applications 5/2 (October 1, 2025): 33-48. https://izlik.org/JA54SF32PJ.
JAMA
1.Turan E, Er O. Classification of Welch Periodograms Using Deep Learning Methods: A Case Study on the Prediction of Sleep Apnea. AITA. 2025;5:33–48.
MLA
Turan, Emre, and Orhan Er. “Classification of Welch Periodograms Using Deep Learning Methods: A Case Study on the Prediction of Sleep Apnea”. Artificial Intelligence Theory and Applications, vol. 5, no. 2, Oct. 2025, pp. 33-48, https://izlik.org/JA54SF32PJ.
Vancouver
1.Emre Turan, Orhan Er. Classification of Welch Periodograms Using Deep Learning Methods: A Case Study on the Prediction of Sleep Apnea. AITA [Internet]. 2025 Oct. 1;5(2):33-48. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA54SF32PJ