The invention is an artificial neural network that can predict the respiratory disturbance index of patients suspected of sleep apnea syndrome. An artificial neural network is a numerical processor that accepts multiple features simultaneously, usually in digital form about a series of individual cases. Artificial neural networks have a propensity for storing experiential knowledge and making that knowledge available for use such as predicting the outcome of new cases. The system's output is a predicted respiratory disturbance index with a 95% confidence limits.