time in apnea .. time in hypopnea??

Hello everyone,

The 'time in apnea' reported by the Encore Viewer does it also include the time in hypopnea? I would think not. So if one's hypopnea index is increasing how would one go about assessing the impact on breathing? I know if my time in apnea is 11 minutes, it's a lot! And I can imagine why I feel the way I do the following day. How do assess the impact of an hypopnea index?

Thanks

Bernard

Hi, I hope someone else has the answer to your main question, but I wanted to ask (when you mentioned your apnea time) if you've ever considered a full face mask, in case you mouth breathe while sleeping and lose all the 'good' air that way?

I have Encore Pro and Skinner's ProAnalyzer so I did some backwards math and it appears that time in hypopnea is not counted in the total time in apnea number which is as you expected. I took my average length of apnea and multiplied it by the number of apnea events at 15 (little over 7 hours therapy) and I got total time in apnea. Roughly 3 minutes with an AHI last night of 2.7 and 2.1 of that being apneas.

Don't know of any way to measure time in hypopnea though.

Can you tell what is going on to explain why you are having 11 minutes in apnea?? Yeah, that would pretty much explain why you feel bad but what can you do about it?

For Respironics, the Time-in-Apnea includes only "apneas". It does not include Hypopneas.

In my titration study, I only had Apneas (no hypopneas). Now, using my M-Series APAP set to a constant pressure (8 cmH2O), I have mostly apneas (4+ times more apneas than hypopneas). Since Respironics does not provide a Time-in-Hypopnea, I suggest that you judge the effect of your hypopneas on your sleep by how many occur, how many are in clusters (where they would have greater impact on your sleep), and how often they wake you up (where you recognize that you are, indeed, awake). I am sure that others will chime in with their answers so stay tuned.

BML wrote:Hello everyone,

The 'time in apnea' reported by the Encore Viewer does it also include the time in hypopnea? I would think not. So if one's hypopnea index is increasing how would one go about assessing the impact on breathing? I know if my time in apnea is 11 minutes, it's a lot! And I can imagine why I feel the way I do the following day. How do assess the impact of an hypopnea index?

Thanks

Bernard

No, because a hypopnea is not an Apnea (absence of breath). The machine only counts the numbers of Hypopneas, not the time for them.

How do you assess the impact? Probably by how many show up on your Encore reports.

If you're spending that much time (or close to it) in apnea, you have some major issues with pressure settings (EPAP) or mouth leakage.

The following definitions were copied from the Encore (Pro) "Help" option.


Den


Flow Limitation:

A partial obstruction of the airway as detected by a change in the shape of the flow signal.


Hypopnea:

A hypopnea is indicated if there is approximately 40% reduction in airflow for a duration of between 10 and 60 seconds, compared to the average airflow over an extended period of several minutes. Following a reduction in airflow, the therapy device must see two recovery breaths in order to label the event as a potential hypopnea.


Apnea:

An apnea is indicated if there is an 80% reduction in airflow for 10 seconds compared to the average airflow over an extended period of several minutes or if there is no airflow detected for 10 seconds.

Thanks to everyone for their responses. I am in the process of doing a second sleep study to assess where the problem might be. They are considering central sleep apneas, adjustments to my pressures, replacing my mask (after just 6 months?). All those good feelings I had during the first 6 months are fading fast.. but I have hope. Got to.

But my hypopneas have been going up and I sometimes wake up feeling my machine pushing air like crazy to get me going again. Anyway, now I know hypopneas are to be added on to my time in apnea.. not a pretty picture.

Thanks