Hypopneas down/apneas up

Jmark · Post by **Jmark** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 12:45 pm

I've been on CPAP for about 11 months due to OSA, with a great improvement with how I feel. After switching masks, my numbers got a little worse, and I started feeling a little groggy, but I liked the feel of the new mask. So, about 3 weeks ago, I increased my CPAP pressure from 7.5 to 8.5, hoping for some better results. The data show that my AHI went down, but my AI went up. The decrease comes from a decrease in my HI. Hmm ... shouldn't the AI and HI correlate with each other? And, if they don't, which is better?

Here are the actual numbers:

WHEN AT 7.5:
Apneas: Avg. 1.9/nt. Avg. time in Apnea: 20.9 sec Avg Apnea Duration: 11 sec
Hypopneas: Avg. 12.0/nt.
AHI: 1.8 OAI: 0.2 HI: 1.5

AFTER CHANGE TO 8.5:
Apneas: Avg. 3.0/nt; Avg. time in Apnea: 32.3 sec Avg. Apnea Duration: 10.6 sec
Hypopneas: Avg. 2.4/nt.
AHI: 0.7 OAI: 0.4 HI: 0.3

Thanks in advance for any insights!

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 12:51 pm

Leak numbers?
Are you mouth-leaking?

Den

Jmark · Post by **Jmark** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 1:22 pm

Thanks! I don't know if I'm mouth-breathing. Interesting possibility. Guess I'll need to try my chin strap again.

I've never understood how to interpret leak numbers, and they have not changed. Here they are:

AT 7.5:
Max: hovering around 56 LPM
90%: around 39 LPM
Avg: around 33 LPM

AFTER INCREASING TO 8.5:
Max: hovering around 56 LPM
90%: around 39 LPM
Avg: around 33 LPM

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 1:43 pm

Well, you might be a little high at those pressures. The "average" numbers you gave would be about right for 10 cm.

http://www.internetage.com/cpapinfo/leak-rates-1.html

Tape or Polident adhesive denture strips would be more certain then a chin strap.

Personally, I've never put much stock in the "Max Leak" numbers.

You could try going up a bit further in pressure and see what happens there. The pressures you're using are still fairly "low" (relatively speaking).

Den

Jmark · Post by **Jmark** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 2:14 pm

Den,

Thank you so much! Great chart. Onto mouth-breathing tests ...
javascript:emoticon(':)')
Smile

Mark

track · Post by **track** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 3:55 pm

woooohooooo...AHI is below 1 and your AI goes from .2 to .4? I have more variation than that every night and have never approached an AHI of one. With numbers like that what's the difference? Your numbers are below the average population by a mile....both those on and not on cpap. From my perspective you are getting super treatment at either number .

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 5:02 pm

track wrote:woooohooooo...AHI is below 1 and your AI goes from .2 to .4? I have more variation than that every night and have never approached an AHI of one. With numbers like that what's the difference? Your numbers are below the average population by a mile....both those on and not on cpap. From my perspective you are getting super treatment at either number .

The reason for Mark's posting is that after switching masks, he wasn't feeling as well. Granted, the AHI numbers are very good, but some things could still be out of whack.

Den

mindy · Post by **mindy** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 5:03 pm

Although I'm not a big fan of getting too focused on small differences in numbers, I do think paying attention to how we're feeling is important. There is always some amount of measurement error and we don't know what the variance is for these machines!

Mindy

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 5:11 pm

And.....not all masks are created equal.....

When I switched from the UMFF to the Quattro, I could detect subtle differences in the two (and how I initially felt).

Den

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 6:24 pm

I am delighted by my "numbers." But ... I am not feeling as rested as I did before I switched masks (from CL-2 to Swift-2), which is why I asked for help. Thanks, all!

Mark

Mask

Additional Comments: Strictly a side sleeper