The Sleep Unit of the Trueta and Santa Caterina hospitals has carried out more than 6,526 tests since the start-up of the new facilities

The Unit, attached to the Pneumology Service, moved to Santa Caterina in April 2023 to have more space and resources to carry out tests and studies related to sleep disorders.

Today, 14 March, is World Sleep Day. Its aim is to highlight the importance of sleep in people’s health and well-being.

Since moving to the new facilities at the Martí i Julià Hospital Park in Salt, the Sleep Unit of the Pneumology Service of the Trueta and Santa Caterina hospitals has carried out 6,526 diagnostic tests of various types (2,506 in 2023, 3,584 in 2024 and 436 so far in 2025), in a modern space equipped with the necessary resources to consolidate a healthcare model for the treatment of sleep disorders in the Girona Health Region, led by primary care and the Pneumology Service.

Of the total number of tests, some are performed at night, such as complete videopolysomnographies. In these cases, the patient spends the night in the Unit, where their brain, muscle, cardiorespiratory activity, eye movement, position and snoring are monitored in order to make an accurate diagnosis of the type of sleep disturbance they are suffering from.

During these two years, 1,270 night tests (339 in 2023, 761 in 2024 and 170 in January and February 2025) were carried out, supervised by specialised nursing professionals. Monitoring allows the identification of brain waves that can determine whether the person is awake or asleep and the different phases of sleep, the level of oxygen in the blood, respiratory and heart rate, snoring and body position. They are aimed at people who suffer from a sleep disorder such as daytime sleepiness, fatigue, loud snoring, or if there is suspicion of other disorders such as obstructive sleep apnoea, insomnia, narcolepsy or periodic leg movement syndrome during sleep. To carry them out, the unit has four soundproofed rooms, with a single bed and bathroom, equipped with technological systems that allow, on the one hand, remote control of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and non-invasive mechanical ventilation (NIVM) equipment and, on the other, patient supervision via video, and communication between the professional and the admitted person undergoing study.

A total of 5,256 daytime tests have been performed (2,167 in 2023, 2,823 in 2024 and 266 in 2025).

Link with primary care through the Innòbics-SAHS programme

The Sleep Unit is also an important piece in the implementation of the programme for the diagnosis and treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea from the primary care centres (CAPs) of the Catalan Health Institute (ICS) and the Health Care Institute (IAS) through the Innòbics SAHS program, which was carried out from 2022 to 2024 with funding from the European organisation EIT Health and the co-participation of IDIGBI, the TIC Salut Social Foundation, the Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Norte, Pulso Ediciones, TRC Informática, ResMed Spain, and OXIGEN Salud. Through the Virtual Support Unit, the pulmonology nursing professionals of the Sleep Unit interact with the nurse from each CAP duly trained to carry out the programme. Patients with suspected sleep apnoea are given a digital medical history and are provided with an electromedical device (sleep polygraph) that they must use for one night at home to collect data while they sleep.

During the Innòbics-SAHS project, 11,349 patients were treated in Primary Care, 3,567 of whom were detected to be at risk of obstructive sleep apnoea. 3,519 home respiratory polygraphs have been carried out from Primary Care and endorsed by the Virtual Sleep Unit (94%).

Regarding the assessment by the Virtual Sleep Unit, the results were: 2,524 confirmed cases (73%) and 934 cases ruled out (27%)

The project has proven to be an effective and cost-effective model for the early diagnosis and treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea, a highly under-diagnosed pathology that affects thousands of people. It is an innovative model that integrates Primary Care and hospital services for the treatment of sleep apnoea, making processes more agile.

The most complex cases – approximately 15% – were referred to the Sleep Unit for more exhaustive studies. Sleep apnoea syndrome is a condition that affects up to 25% of people between 30 and 70 years old and increases with age and overweight.

Eric Rojas, doctor of the Pneumology Service of Dr. Josep Trueta and Santa Caterina de Salt Hospitals and head of the sleep unit, explains that “early diagnosis and treatment not only improves patients’ quality of life, but also prevents serious complications. By treating patients early and correctly, the risk of problems arising from cardiovascular diseases is reduced.”

A highly complex multidisciplinary unit with a degree of excellence

The Trueta-Santa Caterina Sleep Unit is accredited as a highly complex multidisciplinary unit and, since August 2023, it has also held the degree of excellence granted by the Spanish Society of Pneumology and Thoracic Surgery (SEPAR). This distinction is recognition of the capability achieved by the Unit to carry out a wide portfolio of healthcare, teaching and research activities related to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders in adults and children.

In the unit, other activities such as arterial blood gas measurements and capnographies are also carried out to learn about the different gases involved in breathing. In addition, adaptations of the various respiratory therapies prescribed are also made if necessary.

Sleep disorders, and especially respiratory disorders such as apnoea, are one of the main reasons for consultation with pulmonology services in general. When it comes to treating them, the Unit has the equipment and healthcare professionals fully trained to perform complex tests.

14 March World Sleep Day

Today, 14 March, is World Sleep Day. This event, promoted by the World Sleep Society (WCC), is held every year on the Friday before the spring equinox, with the aim of highlighting the importance of sleep in people’s health and well-being.

Sleep is a complex biological process that helps people stay healthy. It is characterised by changes in brain activity, breathing, heart rate, body temperature and other physiological functions.

Good sleep hygiene habits include:

• Maintain regular schedules when going to bed and getting up.
• Limit the duration of naps to a maximum of 45 minutes.
• Avoid, before going to bed: stimulating drinks (coffee, tea, soft drinks, alcohol, etc.), tobacco consumption, heavy, fatty, spicy or sugary meals, and the use of screens.
• Exercise daily.
• Sleep in a healthy environment: in a room that is only used for resting, with good temperature, light and noise conditions, in a comfortable bed and with comfortable clothes.