Which condition is most likely to cause ECG artifact during a sleep study?

Obesity is indeed most likely to cause ECG artifact during a sleep study due to the physiological and technical factors associated with this condition. Individuals who are obese often experience increased body mass and adipose tissue, which can lead to variations in skin impedance. This, in turn, might affect the quality of the electrical signals picked up by the electrodes, resulting in artifacts that can distort the ECG readings.

Additionally, in an obese patient, there is a higher likelihood of movement or positioning changes throughout the study, which can also contribute to artifacts. Fat tissue can sometimes make it harder for the electrode leads to remain in consistent contact with the skin, leading to interruptions in the signal and noise in the ECG data.

Other factors mentioned, such as properly prepared electrodes, high-performance amplifiers, and gold cup electrodes, are generally designed to enhance signal quality and minimize artifacts. Proper preparation and the use of high-quality equipment reduce the likelihood of ECG interference, while gold cup electrodes are known for their good conductivity and reliability. Therefore, these factors are less likely to contribute to ECG artifact compared to the inherent challenges presented by obesity.