Abu Dhabi to test high-tech mattress using AI to ease sleep apnoea

An artificial intelligence-enabled mattress designed to detect and alleviate sleep apnoea during sleep will undergo testing in Abu Dhabi. The study, a joint effort between Abu Dhabi's Department of Health, Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, and sleep technology firm Eight Sleep, will involve 30 patients with positional sleep apnoea, a condition where breathing interruptions worsen when individuals sleep on their backs.

Over a 12-week period, the AI-powered mattress will collect sleep and physiological data such as heart rate, breathing rate, movement, snoring, and positional information, connecting this information to Abu Dhabi’s advanced health system. The research aims to identify patterns that could aid future treatment and clinical studies.

Dr. Jethin Rafique, chair of pulmonology at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City and the study's principal investigator, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, highlighting the focus on early detection and treatment of positional sleep apnoea. Unlike traditional sleep studies that require patients to wear cumbersome equipment, this mattress not only monitors patients but also responds to changes in their position by triggering vibrations to encourage them to reposition themselves.

This innovation stands in contrast to conventional treatments like continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines, which many find uncomfortable or claustrophobic.

The mattress serves dual purposes as both a diagnostic and treatment device. Prior to the study, each participant will undergo a baseline sleep study, followed by a second night using the AI mattress to assess whether the technology enhances sleep quality. This marks a significant advancement in the medical application of technology originally developed to enhance sleep quality.

Dr. Noura Al Ghaithi, undersecretary of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, emphasized the importance of quality sleep in maintaining long-term health and the department's commitment to leveraging technology for health improvements. Matteo Franceschetti, Eight Sleep's co-founder and CEO, emphasized the company's mission to improve global sleep quality, noting that temperature regulation significantly impacts sleep.

The company is also exploring the potential of AI to detect other health conditions, such as diabetes and hypertension, by integrating advanced sensors and algorithms into their products. The Abu Dhabi study specifically targets positional sleep apnoea, recruiting participants from Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City's sleep clinic to validate previous US research findings.

Participants will experience one night of conventional sleep monitoring followed by another night using the AI mattress, allowing researchers to compare sleep quality and physiological metrics. Dr. Rafique anticipates broader applications of this technology, potentially enabling remote monitoring of respiratory conditions through AI-based diagnostics.