Methods and apparatus monitor health by detection of sleep stage. For example, a sleep stage monitor (100) may access sensor data signals related to bodily movement and/or respiration movements. At least a portion of the detected signals may be analyzed to calculate respiration variability. The respiration variability may include one or more of variability of respiration rate and variability of respiration amplitude. A processor may then determine a sleep stage based on one or more of respiration variability and bodily movement, such as with a combination of both. The determination of sleep stages may distinguish between deep sleep and other stages of sleep, or may differentiate between deep sleep, light sleep and REM sleep. The bodily movement and respiration movement signals may be derived from one or more sensors, such as non-invasive sensor (e.g., a non-contact radio-frequency motion sensor or a pressure sensitive mattress).
