AHI (Back sleeping vs. Side sleeping)

[Newsgrouper]

My AHI is always a bit higher when I sleep on my back versus my side. Is this usual?

thank you

[Julie]

We all try not to sleep on our backs (using big foam wedges if necessary to do it) because it almost automatically provokes more apneas.

[Newsgrouper]

Does a big foam wedge help with back sleeping? I have been trying to sleep on my back to avoid the mask leaks I experience when I sleep on my side.

[Pugsy]

Yes, supine sleeping and an increase in apnea events is quite common.
Doesn't happen to everyone though. My AHI is pretty much the same supine sleeping and side sleeping and pressure needs don't seem to change all that much with sleep position changes.
For me my main factor for more AHI and more pressure needs happens to be REM stage sleep...which is also quite common.
Sleep study AHI in non REM sleep was only about 12 per hour...REM stage sleep I kicked butt with 53 per hour.
There are people who you could substitute side sleeping for non REM sleep and maybe have 12 per hour and substitute supine sleeping for REM sleep and have 53 per hour. Some "lucky" people have both....worse in REM sleep and worse with supine sleeping.

I did some experiments a while back where I stayed on my side all night...I still needed the higher pressures for REM stage events. That's why I use auto adjusting pressure machine. Since supine sleeping doesn't really make me "worse" I sleep however I want since the machine is going to need to adjust as need for the REM stage events anyway. If there was a huge pressure difference solely related to supine sleeping I might try to limit supine sleeping but I have always felt that it was more important to get the sleep first...worry about sleep position second.
Some people simply can't sleep on their sides...maybe it hurts. We don't sleep well when we are in pain.
With optimal pressure settings the airway is held open and the supine events are prevented so sleep whichever way a person gets the best sleep. If there are marked differences in pressure needs with sleep position...use auto adjusting pressure machine and let the machine do its job.

[Julie]

Big foam wedges are used behind you to keep you from turning onto your back... some people even sew tennis balls into their PJ's , and I believe Pugsy's rather lucky, but probably in a minority.

[teachcsg]

Gravity is usually the culprit when someones AHI is higher on their back vs their side-pulls down on the airway. That's why most sleep labs will ask that you try to sleep on your back all night since that way they can try to resolve all the apneic events where sometimes on your side they may not show up. Once home though, you can sleep on your side or back-whichever is most comfortable.