Precise Meaning of MIN and MED

[Eddi]

Hi_ iahev been assuming that MIN is the lowest my SPO2 went and MED the average. My figures are usually around 89 for MIN and 95 for MED. I have looked for the meanings in the help sections but couldn't find the definitions. It is many years since I did Maths!

Have I assumed correctly? I should add that my nightly AHI is usually well ender 1, sometimes 0!

kindest regards

[vandownbytheriver]

MED is short for Median:

To find the median: Arrange the data points from smallest to largest. If the number of data points is odd, the median is the middle data point in the list. If the number of data points is even, the median is the average of the two middle data points in the list.

[Eddi]

Thank you kindly. I didn't make myself clear. All I see is MIN with a figure under it and then MED with a different figure. I have been assuming that these are the most important figures to take note of. So when it says 87 under MIN 87 is the owest my SPO2 went and 95 under MED is the average?

I didn't understand your reply at all. I don't recall any of my math excet the usual.

[Pugsy]

http://adventures-in-hosehead-land.blog ... de-to.html

Math refresher course if interested.

[onward60]

There is something important about the MED related to CPAP therapy, isn't there? I just can't remember what it is.

EDIT: This was actually a serious question that I actually wanted to know the answer to.

[MyIdaho]

There is something important about the MED related to CPAP therapy, isn't there? I just can't remember what it is.

Why the snark? Just answer the question. Med is short for Median. Half of the values will be below the median and half above. It is a much better measure of central tendency than average. Extreme values can inflate or reduce the average. Median is not affected by extreme values.

[dataq1]

Median is not affected by extreme values.

[dataq1]

Choosing the appropriate measure depends on the context and the nature of the data. If outliers are present, the median may be a better representation of central tendency. However, both measures provide valuable insights depending on the situation.

[MyIdaho]

Choosing the appropriate measure depends on the context and the nature of the data. If outliers are present, the median may be a better representation of central tendency. However, both measures provide valuable insights depending on the situation.

Definitely agree! What's happening on the fringe can be very diagnostic. Examples 95% measure of blood oxygen or leak rate. If I only looked at the median, it would suggest I never have any leaks but the 95% leak measure usually shows a value.

[Eddi]

Replying to Pugsy: thank you for that. I read it. I got from it that the figures are meaningless. I know my min is 11 co the machine is set 11-20. My mdeian was 16.74 and according tot his article, that means for 50% of th time my pressure was at 16.74 or less than that. That is not hepful. I have no idea if that is good or bad.

I guess th only figure that I ought to note is the AHI which in this case was 0.00. Last night it was 0.27. Despite this, I needed a nap which lasted 2hrs. I thik this is because my pain has mulitplies a ot recently so I am kore tired than usual.

[robysue1]

Replying to Pugsy: thank you for that. I read it. I got from it that the figures are meaningless. I know my min is 11 co the machine is set 11-20. My mdeian was 16.74 and according tot his article, that means for 50% of th time my pressure was at 16.74 or less than that. That is not hepful. I have no idea if that is good or bad.

It's neither good nor bad. But it's not quite meaningless either. What that median pressure of 16.74 means is that you're not hitting max pressure for significantly long periods of time each night. (Hitting your max pressure for significantly long periods of time each night can, under some circumstances, indicate that the pressure settings---either min pressure or max pressure or both---might be set too low.)

I guess th only figure that I ought to note is the AHI which in this case was 0.00. Last night it was 0.27. Despite this, I needed a nap which lasted 2hrs. I thik this is because my pain has mulitplies a ot recently so I am kore tired than usual.

Your AHI figures (which are superb) indicate the current pressure settings are doing a good job of preventing your obstructive apneas and hypopneas from occurring. The fact that you're dealing with more pain that usual is easily enough to explain the need for a nap as well as any feeling that you are not sleeping as well as the data would indicate you're sleeping.

[Eddi]

Thaks Robby Sue. As yu can maybe tell Iam up at 5:45am, since 4:30am because of pain. I am hapy with my AHI. Having a nap is very unusual sinc ebeing treatd for OSA.

[amenite]

There is something important about the MED related to CPAP therapy, isn't there? I just can't remember what it is.

Why the snark? Just answer the question. Med is short for Median. Half of the values will be below the median and half above. It is a much better measure of central tendency than average. Extreme values can inflate or reduce the average. Median is not affected by extreme values.

A Median is an average. An Arithmetic Mean is an average. Different types of averages but they are both averages nonetheless. It is true that when folks refer to some number as an "average" it is pretty commonly assumed that they are citing an arithmetic mean rather than a median. But I don't take for granted that some reference to an average is definitely an arithmetic mean unless they say so. Because there are enough people in the world including the odd journalist that are not cognizant of the difference.

[MyIdaho]

Why the snark? Just answer the question. Med is short for Median. Half of the values will be below the median and half above. It is a much better measure of central tendency than average. Extreme values can inflate or reduce the average. Median is not affected by extreme values.

A Median is an average. An Arithmetic Mean is an average. Different types of averages but they are both averages nonetheless. It is true that when folks refer to some number as an "average" it is pretty commonly assumed that they are citing an arithmetic mean rather than a median. But I don't take for granted that some reference to an average is definitely an arithmetic mean unless they say so. Because there are enough people in the world including the odd journalist that are not cognizant of the difference.

Median and mean are measures of central tendency but are calculated differently. A mean is a mean and a median is a median. One is not the other.