AHI: how much fluctuation is "normal"?

svh · Post by **svh** » Sat Oct 14, 2006 4:07 pm

Just wondering, how much do your AHIs fluctuate before you start wondering what's going on? Mine have been from .5-3.5, and I know these are all perfectly reasonable numbers, but I still wonder why the differences. I haven't bought the software yet, so all I have to go on is AHI and leak rate averages, which DH can turn into daily numbers for me. I think I have a definite tendency to over-analyse this stuff, so I just wondered: how much variation is "normal" for all of you?

Thanks!

bdp522 · Post by **bdp522** » Sat Oct 14, 2006 5:55 pm

I am no expert but I would think that you don't sleep or breathe exactly the same every night so the numbers would have some variation. Could you have had a leak, or mouth breathing, or slept on your back a little longer, or had a glass of wine to close to bedtime, the list goes on and on. The one thing I have learned is this is NOT an exact science. I know my AHI fluctuates slightly from night to night.
I'm sure someone with more experience will be by soon to correct me if I'm wrong, but I wouldn't worry about it at all.

Brenda

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Sat Oct 14, 2006 7:25 pm

svh,

Those are pretty respectable numbers. It's not unusual to get pretty good fluctuations on our numbers. If you decide to get the software (which I would recommend) to really see the events, then you'll a better idea of what may help. Just offhand, I would think that a slight raise in your pressure might close those numbers up a bit.
Mine vary from 0.0 to about 2.0.

Best wishes,

Den

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Sat Oct 14, 2006 7:39 pm

Like Den says, everything affects AHI, that's why we have to have a avg for the week to make sense of it. We meet different problems daily that affect our scores, a night with leaks or congestion, can play havoic with our treatment, the software is a better way to see the big picture. Jim

svh · Post by **svh** » Sat Oct 14, 2006 7:56 pm

I know the software would be a good idea, and I've always intended to get it, but it's just a lot of money right now, so I'm holding off and trying to get all I can off my machine as it is....

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Sun Oct 15, 2006 12:26 pm

svh wrote:I know the software would be a good idea, and I've always intended to get it, but it's just a lot of money right now, so I'm holding off and trying to get all I can off my machine as it is....

If your 7 day avg. AHI starts climbing above AHI=12 I would consider a pressure change otherwise you are doing quite well keeping it under <AHI=5

AHI is the SUM of both apnea and hypopnea divided by 60. Most of that number comes from Hypopnea vs apnea.

Like the others said, positional changes, diet, allergies can all effect your AHI score and it can change from night to night.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Sun Oct 15, 2006 10:32 pm

svh wrote:Just wondering, how much do your AHIs fluctuate before you start wondering what's going on? Mine have been from .5-3.5, and I know these are all perfectly reasonable numbers, but I still wonder why the differences.

I'll add my ditto to the other posters who said that's a perfectly normal amount of variation, and perfectly "normal" AHI. You're seeing the same kind of variation I usually have, too.

oldgearhead · Post by **oldgearhead** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 9:42 am

About the same here, low = 0, high = 3.40. Average of the average is 1.66,
for the past 155 nights.

svh · Post by **svh** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 9:57 am

Thanks everyone!

AHI: how much fluctuation is "normal"?

AHI: how much fluctuation is "normal"?

Re: AHI: how much fluctuation is "normal"?