R ARIVANANTHAM
CHENNAI, FEB 19
In a defining moment for India’s sleep medicine ecosystem, SIMS Hospital has launched the Integrated Sleep Institute — a first-of-its-kind multidisciplinary centre engineered to deliver seamless, personalised sleep healthcare under a unified clinical model. Conceived to overcome the traditionally fragmented management of sleep disorders, the institute integrates medical, surgical, diagnostic and supportive services into a structured, evidence-based care continuum.
Uniting 10 specialties through a coordinated framework, the institute deploys a dedicated sleep board and sophisticated sleep analytics to manage neurological, psychological and respiratory sleep disorders across paediatric and adult populations.
- Ten-specialty convergence transforms fragmented sleep care into a single coordinated clinical pathway
- Advanced sleep labs, DISE diagnostics and navigator-led care promise precision, comfort and continuity
- Experts flag snoring as a silent cardiometabolic threat as institute targets stroke and heart attack prevention
- Personalised therapy, behavioural interventions and circadian optimisation programmes widen scope beyond treatment
The institute was inaugurated by actress Aishwarya Rajesh, noted for portraying snoring-related relationship challenges in the Tamil film DeAr. Ravi Pachamuthu, Chairman of the SRM Group, graced the event as Guest of Honour.
Comprehensive solutions for complex sleep disorders
The Integrated Sleep Institute addresses a broad spectrum of sleep conditions increasingly associated with nocturnal cardiac events and stroke. Its multidisciplinary clinical team — comprising ENT surgeons, pulmonologists, neurologists, bariatric specialists, oral and maxillofacial surgeons and conservative dentists — collaborates to deliver personalised treatment aligned with gold-standard protocols.
Therapeutic offerings include Positive Airway Pressure modalities such as CPAP, Auto PAP and BiPAP, alongside minimally invasive endoscopic, plasma-based and radiofrequency procedures designed to ensure precision, reduced bleeding and enhanced patient comfort.
Technology powering real-time sleep insights
Central to the institute is a dedicated sleep laboratory staffed by experienced technologists conducting attended sleep studies in private cabins. Continuous real-time data capture enables clinicians to evaluate how sleep influences physiological, neurological and cardiovascular parameters.
The centre also performs Drug Induced Sleep Endoscopy (DISE), a specialised procedure in which monitored sedation recreates natural sleep. A flexible endoscope is then used to visualise airway obstruction dynamically, facilitating targeted therapeutic decision-making.
Complementing medical interventions, the institute provides counselling and cognitive behavioural therapy-based programmes for insomnia and sleep apnea, along with specialised circadian optimisation services for sports professionals requiring rapid time-zone adaptation.
Voices from the launch
In her comments, Actress Ms. Aishwarya Rajesh said, “While snoring can be normal, there are disease-related forms of snoring that pose a risk. These may arise from neurological or psychological issues, leading to disturbed sleep, difficulty waking from deep sleep, insomnia, or even involuntary physical actions during sleep. There is also the issue of ‘sleep divorce,’ where a snoring partner is forced to sleep separately. I am happy that with the launch of the Integrated Sleep Institute at SIMS, the city now has a comprehensive solution that can address not just health concerns but also relationship challenges within families that arise out of snoring.”
Speaking about the institute’s vision, Dr. Ravi Pachamuthu said, “We are happy to launch India’s first dedicated multidisciplinary institute for comprehensive sleep care. The Advanced Institute of Sleep Health redefines how sleep disorders are diagnosed and treated in India. Unlike conventional models where patients move between disconnected departments, this institute functions as a fully integrated, multidisciplinary centre. Medical, surgical, diagnostic, and supportive services operate through a unified pathway rather than isolated consultations. We are equipped to manage the complete spectrum of sleep-related conditions – from pediatric to adult – through collaborative, evidence-based protocols.”
Silent risks and structured care pathways
Karthik Madesh Ratnavelu, Director and Senior Consultant, ENT, who heads the Sleep Institute, said, “Stroke and nighttime heart attacks frequently occur in individuals with sleep disorders. In fact, at least three-fourths of patients who experience these life-threatening events have underlying sleep disorders. The problem with snoring is that oxygen intake reduces while carbon dioxide elimination becomes inadequate, leading to serious systemic complications. In many ways, untreated sleep disorders are as risky for heart disease and stroke as cigarette smoking is for cancer.”
Quoting the ancient Tamil Saint Thirumoolar, he explained in detail on the institute’s patient-centric model, and noted that each patient will be assigned a dedicated sleep navigator to coordinate investigations, therapy and follow-up. The institute’s sleep board — comprising airway specialists, pulmonologists, neurologists and CBT experts — conducts shared deliberations with patients and families to finalise informed treatment strategies spanning mTedication, behavioural therapy and surgical options.
On preventive care, Dr. Karthick Madesh emphasised the importance of sleep hygiene: “Waking up at a consistent time helps regulate when we fall asleep. Exposure to morning sunlight suppresses melatonin and triggers cortisol release, which keeps us alert for 12 to 14 hours. Thereafter, melatonin secretion resumes naturally to promote sleep. It is important to avoid arguments and distractions during sleep hours, complete dinner at least two hours before bedtime, and refrain from partying at midnight, late-night eating, or spending entire weekends awake. Such habits disrupt the body’s natural rhythm and increase long-term health risks.”
With its integrated design, advanced diagnostics and coordinated clinical philosophy, the SIMS Integrated Sleep Institute signals a paradigm shift — elevating sleep health from a neglected lifestyle concern to a structured pillar of preventive and therapeutic medicine in India.
Dr Raju Sivasamy, Vice President, SIMS Hospital welcomed the gethering.
