HI vs AI?

[time2sleep]

I am a newbie and as I understand it AI refers to the number of apneas per hour and a good number is under 1.0. HI is the number of partial hypopneas per hour and a good number is under 2.4.

I have been on OSA therapy since early April. I write down the readings from my LED screen most mornings, so I have a snapshot of the last couple of months. My AI's are always under 1.0 but my HI's are up in the 3-4.5 range.

My question is this: Why do we care what the partial obstructions are? If it is partial can't you still breathe? Why aren't we just concerned about the total obstructions, or AI events?

How do I get the HI's lower? Thanks in advance for your help.

[mars]

Hi Time2Sleep

I am not a technical person, others can give you more detail. But my twopennorth is a follows -

[quote="time2sleep"]I am a newbie and as I understand it AI refers to the number of apneas per hour and a good number is under 1.0. HI is the number of partial hypopneas per hour and a good number is under 2.4.

A hypopnea could be called a partial apnea, a partial hypopnea could, I suppose, be called a partial partial apnea. Best just to use the terms apnea and hypopnea. A good number is the lowest you can get for you, not some else's lowest.

Quote - I have been on OSA therapy since early April. I write down the readings from my LED screen most mornings, so I have a snapshot of the last couple of months. My AI's are always under 1.0 but my HI's are up in the 3-4.5 range.

My guess would be that is just the way your disease works, in combination with your machine and its settings. Fine tuning may help. You have all you need to do this.

Quote - My question is this: Why do we care what the partial obstructions are? If it is partial can't you still breathe? Why aren't we just concerned about the total obstructions, or AI events?

What we are concerned about, apart from interrupted sleep etc, is the lack of oxygen in our blood. A hypopnea still reduces the oxygen, therefore it is doing us harm.

Good luck with the fine tuning, there are experts here who can help you there (but I am not one of them)

cheers

Mars

[time2sleep]

Thanks. I see your point about oxygen reduction no matter what the event. I appreciate your insight.

[rested gal]

Mars gave you a very good answer about why hypopneas can cause problems.

As for this...

My AI's are always under 1.0 but my HI's are up in the 3-4.5 range.
---
How do I get the HI's lower?

You're using a ResMed machine.

With a ResMed machine, I mentally cut the HI number in half.

If you do that, you'll see a very nice low Hypopnea Index.

Even if you don't do that, you're getting a nice low hypopnea index as it stands.

I think both your numbers look fine already.

Here's why I personally halve the Hypopnea Index when I use a ResMed machine and want to compare my results with what I normally see when I use other brands of machines:

Chart posted by Velbor showing the differing definitions used by the different manufacturers:
April 2, 2009
viewtopic.php?p=356255#p356255


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[time2sleep]

THANK YOU sooooo much for all the good info!