Reading the reports

[Diane in CA]

About 2 weeks ago I invested in a new machine...the Respironics M Series with AFlex. I also purchased the software and card reader. Now, how do I read the reports? Is there a chart somewhere that tells you what the numbers mean...or rather what they should be? What are acceptable ranges?

For example AHI - what is my goal?

Also, how about average leak? What are good numbers and what are bad numbers?

I have changed doctors and my new GP knows nothing about CPAP. He is more than happy to refer me to someone but I have no desire to break in a new doctor just to figure this out.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,
Diane

[6PtStar]

Hi Diane

Your AHI should be as low as you can get it. Officially in order to be "Normal" it should be under 5.0. Most of us by working with the data are able to get their AHI under 1.0. For almost a year and a half mine has stayed 0.2. Since I have had open heart surgery my has jumped up to 0.5. I hope it is the pain and not being able to get in a comfortable position.

Your leak data depends on what the exaust rate at your pressure for your mask is. This is generally given in in the instruction that came with your mask. As close as you can get to that number or generally no more than 10% over the listed data.

If you will post your mask and pressure data, you can post some of your reports and have some of the more knowledable folks on the board look at them and give you some pointers.

Hope this answers some of your questions.

Jerry

[Snoredog]

About 2 weeks ago I invested in a new machine...the Respironics M Series with AFlex. I also purchased the software and card reader. Now, how do I read the reports? Is there a chart somewhere that tells you what the numbers mean...or rather what they should be? What are acceptable ranges?

For example AHI - what is my goal?

Also, how about average leak? What are good numbers and what are bad numbers?

I have changed doctors and my new GP knows nothing about CPAP. He is more than happy to refer me to someone but I have no desire to break in a new doctor just to figure this out.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,
Diane

Try the Help screen on the Encore software, they use to have it there. The daily reports are the most helpful. The rest of the report is trends and averages of those trends.

[Diane in CA]

OK -so let's see if I understand this...

I use a variety of masks due to problems fitting my VERY samll nose, but right now I am using the ResMed Swift LT. Accoring to the book (with the little graph) the flow at 8 is 28 and the flow at 12 is 33. According to my report on the 28th (last day downloaded so far) my average CPAP Pressure was 9.0, the average 90% CPAP was 12, the average leak was 29.0 and my AHI was 5.8.

so my AHI is a little high and the leak is _______?

[echo]

The leak is probably OK, but keep in mind it's just an average, and if you're having larger leaks at some points in the night, you won't necessarily see that reflected in the average. For the leak, you should check the software and look at the previous night's daily report.
An ideal leak line is relatively flat (and if APAP mode, follows the APAP pressure). If you have wild swings in the leak line then you know something's wrong.

If you post some daily reports you will get feedback.

Still, it looks like you are on the right track!

[Diane in CA]

Well, the report says no large leak with this mask. As I've said, I have a real problem getting masks to fit. I have a small face, a VERY small nose with no bridge, chubby cheeks and shoulder length hair. I have tried numerous masks but nothing works well day in and day out.

I'm open to all mask suggestions. I've tried profile lite, swift, comfort curve, comfort lite 2, activa, comfort classic and IQ.

Thanks for all of the advice.

[echo]

aahhhh but you missed the soyola. Do a serach for the soyola (and look for posts from snoredog). BTW the advanced search didn't work.

Here's his latest post on the Soyola nasal mask : viewtopic.php?f=1&t=33492&p=284516&hilit=soyola#p284516

It tends to run small so it may fit you better.