What is the "most important" metric?

rwalther · Post by **rwalther** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 7:32 am

I'm interested in opinions on what is the "most important" metric or measurement to either move in a positive direction, or at least stay constant. If you'd take a second and answer the poll, along with any editorial you'd like ... I'd appreciate it.

I'm curious becuase I've been trying a few different masks, and they have differing effects on different statistics. For instance, I have one where my OA goes up, but my VS goes down. That sort of thing. Just trying to figure out which single number is most important so that I can make system and mask adjustments to drive that number.

Thanks.

Rusty

WearyOne · Post by **WearyOne** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 8:21 am

Hi, Rusty. It looks like your choices are related to an auto. I have a cpap, which doesn't offer all of those choices, but I voted anyway.

I chose "other" for two reasons. One, there isn't a choice for "Average Time Spent in Apnea," and two, I don't know that you can pick just one. (Does an auto have "average time spent in apnea" data?) If you're going by oxygen desats, IMO the apnea index and time spent in apnea I think would almost tie because these are complete (if I'm not mistaken) blockages and cut off all oxygen. If you're going by how you feel, it's all of them. Some people can have a lot of hypopneas or other types of flow limitation and no apneas and feel horrible.

For me, it's impossible to pick just one.

Pam

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mindy · Post by **mindy** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 8:34 am

Hi,

I chose "Other" because I don't think any one measure can adequately describe what's happening. Also, I think o2 desaturation should be on the list because that measures the actual effect of the apneas and hypopneas.

Mindy

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 8:49 am

You left out the most important one which you yourself are now becoming aware of ...

a leak free mask interface .... without that, all the other metrics are useless.

Gerald · Post by **Gerald** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 9:43 am

The most important metric is not listed...........percent of 02 saturation.

What we're all fighting is "suffocation".........and O2 saturation needs to stay at or above 93% for us to stay healthy.

Lack of sleep.....snoring......etc........are all symptoms of the problem.......which is O2 depravation.

What is the "most important" metric?

Which is most important?

What is the "most important" metric?