High AHI last two nights. Why???

[eperryman]

Two nights ago my cpap machine showed a 20 percent leak. My AHI was 6.5. I'm sure because of the leak. Last night I had no leak and AHI was 9. Makes no sense to me. I do have a auto cpap machine.

[Pugsy]

Please add your equipment to your profile so we don't have to guess at what equipment you use.

I saw in another post that you are using Respironics with AFlex..so I assume the PR System One since you are new to therapy.
Look on the bottom of the blower unit for a 3 digit number...should be either 550 or 560 and I will assume 560 since that is the latest model.
In the equipment menu for profile equipment if that is what you have then this would be your choice
Machine...PR System One 60 Series Auto CPAP
Humidifier..PR System One 60 Series heated tube humidifier with heated tube (even if you don't have that option).

The percent figure that is offered on the PR S1 machines in relation to leak is percent of time spent in large leak and Respironics machines have a generous leak allowance before a large leak flag...so 20 % of the time you were in large leak the other night and it's possible that the leak was so big the machine couldn't even sense the events that might be happening and that might explain the lower AHI in the presence of so much time spent in large leak. It's not that the events didn't happen but maybe the machine couldn't sense them.

So last night you had 0.0 % of time in large leak and a higher AHI...so maybe the machine was able to sense last night what when on better than the night before.

You need to use the software to evaluate the AHI...and not just the onscreen information available on the LCD.
You need to evaluate the AHI breakdown into event categories too. It's important.
If you are spending a lot of time wearing the mask and using the machine while awake then that might explain a good bit of the AHI because the machine doesn't know when you are awake or asleep and it will flag awake breathing irregularities by mistake. So by looking at the software detailed reports and taking in to account for any awake time ...then you decide if the AHI is worth worrying about. If all the "events" are getting flag when you know you are awake then they don't count.

For software information follow the links in my signature line.

[Wulfman...]

Two nights ago my cpap machine showed a 20 percent leak. My AHI was 6.5. I'm sure because of the leak. Last night I had no leak and AHI was 9. Makes no sense to me. I do have a auto cpap machine.

That's probably WHY it's "high". You're using an Auto with a pressure range with a minimum pressure that's probably too low and the events are taking place before the machine can respond.......or.......you aren't having preceding events (flow limitations or snores) that trigger pressure increases by the machine to head off the events, so they're occurring anyway.

And, I agree with what Pugsy said. Use the software and you'll be able to answer your own questions.


Den

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[eperryman]

Yes it is a 560. How do see the detailed report? Is that on the SD card?

[prion]

I always wonder about the times I wake and stay awake for an hour or more still wearing the hose. Once I sneezed
twice, or cough, or hold my breath to fart, whatever, and always forget to look at ResScan to see the results. Just
how much do the results get skewed leaving it running while you are awake?

[Bill44133]

Yes it is a 560. How do see the detailed report? Is that on the SD card?

Yes it is on the SD card. Download the software SleepyHead.. It will give you all the detail.