Yep, I agree, sleep apnoea is a very real problem, one which diagnosis should be accurate, and one which treatment is effective.
I get a bit twitchy when I hear the word "screening."
I guess the old criteria from the WHO still applies:
the condition screened for should be an important one
there should be an acceptable treatment for patients with the disease
the facilities for diagnosis and treatment should be available
there should be a recognised latent or early symptomatic stage
there should be a suitable test or examination which has few false positives - specifity - and few false negatives - sensitivity
the test or examination should be acceptable to the population
the cost, including diagnosis and subsequent treatment, should be economically balanced in relation to expenditure on medical care as a whole
The specificity/sensitivity question concerns me slightly. (Sorry, don't know the values for each in sleep apnoea screening).
I think we have to be careful that we don't ground pilots when there isn't actually an issue.
A real proposition if we don't think through "screening" properly.