What is flow limitation index?
Alos, I have an auto, set 9-12. My last three days AHI is 1.9 - is this acceptable or do you all strive for absolutely zero?
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rested gal
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I don't strive for absolute zero AHI. I like to keep mine 3 or below. Usually am down in the 1.something range. Even "normal" people would often have a few events show up during their sleep, so there's no particular benefit to "zero" AHI. I've seen that a few times on my morning data - didn't feel a bit better than I usually do, which is "very good" anyway.
The link below takes you to a discussion -SWS was in regarding flow limitation. He was talking about data from a 420E autopap, but I'd think his definition of "flow limitation" would apply to any machine as he's talking about what kind of "breath" it means:
Feb 14, 2005 subject: APAP and leaky masks?
To quote from one of his posts in that topic:
"A "flow limitation" is not a specific type of airway obstruction/constriction/collapse/restriction. Rather a "flow limitation" merely describes the final breath waveform shape and volume that exits your mouth and enters the 420e sensors. A "flow limitation" is a lesser obstructed breath than a hypopnea or apnea. A "flow limited" breath can be the result of a swollen nasal passage, a slight asthma, a mildly sagging pallate, etc. " (emphasis mine)
So, I suppose a "flow limitation index" would be the number of flow limited breaths a machine noted, divided by the number of hours slept. Calculated the same way we do it to get a separate "index" of apneas, hypopneas -- or apneas/hypopneas added together for the AHI (apnea/hypopnea index.) Events divided by number of hours slept.
The link below takes you to a discussion -SWS was in regarding flow limitation. He was talking about data from a 420E autopap, but I'd think his definition of "flow limitation" would apply to any machine as he's talking about what kind of "breath" it means:
Feb 14, 2005 subject: APAP and leaky masks?
To quote from one of his posts in that topic:
"A "flow limitation" is not a specific type of airway obstruction/constriction/collapse/restriction. Rather a "flow limitation" merely describes the final breath waveform shape and volume that exits your mouth and enters the 420e sensors. A "flow limitation" is a lesser obstructed breath than a hypopnea or apnea. A "flow limited" breath can be the result of a swollen nasal passage, a slight asthma, a mildly sagging pallate, etc. " (emphasis mine)
So, I suppose a "flow limitation index" would be the number of flow limited breaths a machine noted, divided by the number of hours slept. Calculated the same way we do it to get a separate "index" of apneas, hypopneas -- or apneas/hypopneas added together for the AHI (apnea/hypopnea index.) Events divided by number of hours slept.
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