Interpreting Leak Data from AutoPAP

[TheWife]

My husband's DME lent him an AutoPAP as a CPAP for the past week to collect some data (we're in Canada, and we paid a $250 deposit for a trial until we settle on the equipment, then we'll buy it). He was using the RemStar Auto with nasal pillows. There was an Encore Pro report, 10 pages long. They gave him pages 1 and 3. We're trying to solve a mouth leak problem. Here's the data from the past week (my comments/questions in italics)

Average usage: 5 hrs. 30 mins. He tends to fall asleep for about an hour or more when putting our youngest to bed (without CPAP), then stays up too late 'cause he can't fall asleep, so doesn't get a full night's CPAP sleep.
Total AHI: 1.9 what does that mean?
There's a graph labelled FOSQ Score with a solid bar across the week between about 17 and 20. Meaning?

Pressure: CPAP 8.0
Average Obstructive Apnea Index: 0.9
Average Hypopnea Index: 1.0
Average AHI 1.9
Average Vibratory Score 3.3
Don't really know what most of these mean, except the first one.

Average Max Leak: 136.1
Average 90% Leak: 26.3
Average Leak: 21.0
Average Large Leak: 0 mins
Don't know the difference between the different leaks, but the guy said it was good that he had no large leaks

Basically, the DME guy said his numbers looked good, and if my husband hadn't asked for it, would have probably sent him home with the same equipment. But my husband continues to feel terrible, even after 2.5+ months of CPAP therapy.

He tried a Hybrid last night, unsuccessfully, but we'll make changes until it works (have to go back to the DME to get the medium mask, they only gave him the large one). I'd just like to know what these numbers mean. Thanks.

Theresa

[Goofproof]

Basically with the numbers you had on the report, if he was using it for 8 hours daily and could mantain those numbers daily, he would feel better, it could take 7 days or four months to make up for past sleep loss, but it's something that has to be done all the time, no time out for bad behavior. Jim

[TheWife]

Thanks. He'll work on getting more hours on CPAP. I'm still curious about what the average Mask Leak numbers mean:

Average Max Leak: 136.1
Average 90% Leak: 26.3
Average Leak: 21.0

I guess having an average AHI of 1.9 is good? AHI meaning apnea-hypopnea index? Apnea I know means when you stop breathing, what's hypopnea again?

Theresa

[DreamStalker]

As I understand it, the leak values provided by RemStar consist of both the designed exhaust flow rate (needed to expel CO2) of the interface plus any additional leaks from the system via the interface seal and/or hose system measured in units of liters per minute. So generally you will want to have these values as close to the designed exhaust flow rates as possible ... within about 10% or less.

Most interfaces will provide you with a chart or table that lists the designed exhaust flow rates as a function of pressure ... check you interface users manual.

Someone else with more knowledge than I would need to give you information on how the different averages are calculated by RemStar machines.

- roberto

[Wulfman]

As I understand it, the leak values provided by RemStar consist of both the designed exhaust flow rate (needed to expel CO2) of the interface plus any additional leaks from the system via the interface seal and/or hose system measured in units of liters per minute. So generally you will want to have these values as close to the designed exhaust flow rates as possible ... within about 10% or less.

Most interfaces will provide you with a chart or table that lists the designed exhaust flow rates as a function of pressure ... check you interface users manual.

Someone else with more knowledge than I would need to give you information on how the different averages are calculated by RemStar machines.

- roberto

Sounds like a good explanation to me, Roberto.

Best wishes,

Den