APAP & Obstructive Apnea, Hypopnea, Non-Responsive Apnea

[Regie]

Hello,

My Obstructive Apnea and Hypopnea columns shown by the Encore Pro software vary at various pressure settings. However, my Non-Responsive Apnea/Hypopnea shows continual 0.0 readings at all pressures.

Say, at a pressure of 8 my Obstructive Apnea shows 4.3 but my Non-Responsive shows 0.0. Does that not mean that the machine detected 4.3 episodes that would have stopped my breathing but the mahine prevented it? That is why the Non-Responsive shows 0.0? How does the thing figure 4.3 - looks like it would either be 4 or 5? Why does it have decimal points?

Anyone got any thoughts on any of this?

Thanks,
Regie

[jules]

NR apneas might very well be "centrals"; the machine tried to respond by going up 3 units and that didn't clear the apnea.

What kind of range are you using? You need to be able to go up 3 units from where the apnea occurs to have the machine try to clear it in order for a NR to appear on the report.

For example, I normally run 8 - 10, so I will never see a NR with these settings. However, when I run 8 - 12 (which I have with my FFM), then I might get a NR or two a night.

As far as the decimals the machine takes how many apneas you had and uses the hours (minutes actually) you were at that pressure to get the index. For example, if you were on the machine 5 hours and had 23 apneas during that 5 hours, the software would give the AHI as 4.6 (at least I hope it would). The programming in Encore Pro / Viewer leaves a lot to be desired with round off errors.

Just try to remember this is a measurement of how you are doing and isn't super precise and sure doesn't include everything.

[mbrown]

I have the same question. I just got the encore viewer software - I am trying different masks and last night my AHI was 2.4 my 90% average was 10.0, but it shows 0.0 OA at 8&9 and 10cm but it shows 1.5 OA at 11 and 9.1 OA at 12 cm. I also had 2.1 H at 8 and 4.4 at 9

I was at 12 cm for 6.6 minutes, 11 for 39.5 minutes and 10 for 52 minutes. I spent 263 minutes at 8 and 109.5 minutes at 9cm.


What does all this mean? I also show a large leak for 39 minutes which was the first time the large leak was over 7 or 8.

Any help on how to read this stuff?

My current settings are 8-14 cm with A-flex

Thanks

[mbrown]

ttt

[Regie]

NR apneas might very well be "centrals"; the machine tried to respond by going up 3 units and that didn't clear the apnea.

What kind of range are you using?

Jules,

My range is 5 to 20. This brings up another question though. Since the automatic function is for the purpose of giving the pressure required for proper therapy then why is it that people think that setting it for c-flex instead of a-flex is supposed to be a better option? From what I have read, I understand that a setting too high can trigger an apnea.

As to "that didn't clear the apnea" isn't clearing the apnea what is happening when mine shows 0.0 for non-responsive apneas?

Thanks much,
Regie

[boynedoc]

Regie, I don't believe so. Non-responsive apneas are analagous to Central Apneas, ie - Apneas that occur from the Brain and are not Obstructive Apneas.

There has been reports that higher pressures can create Central type Apneas. The fact that you have zero is wonderful. It has little to nothing to do with your obstructive hypopneas and apneas, which is why they are listed seperately.

So, your continual 0.0 "non-responsive" apnea index means that ALL of your apneas and hypopneas are "obstructive" and not "neuroligical". Also, you don't seem to be prone to "Centrals" (neurological). This is good news for you, as the type of apneas/hypopneas you demonstrate are the ones handled best by the xPAP equipment you use.

[Guest]

Can anyone help mbrown here?

[jules]

take your graphs/data, upload them onto a site such as photobucket and post them on a new thread - I imagine you will get takers to look at the information if you post it that way.