Read Data: First Time

roztom · Post by **roztom** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 1:47 pm

Greetings:

I just did my first download and have my first dataset.

I did both Encore Pro and My Encore.

Now that I have the numbers I'm not sure what they are telling me as far as what ranges are considered compliant and which are in a range that needs addressing.

From 2/15 - 3/5 MY long term trend:

CPAP: 9.0 I know this is my titration.
Avg OAI: 1.0
Avg HI: 0.9
Avg AHI: 1.9
Avg Snore Index: 3.2
Leak:
Avg Max Leak: 100.6
Avg 90% Leak: 43.6
Avg Leak: 35.2
Avg Large Leak: 15.8 sec

Short TErm Data (MYEncore):
3/1 -3/5
Avg Apneas: 12-14 sec.
Avg AHI: 1.4 per hr
Avg SI: 3.5 per hr
Avg Daily Time in Apnea: 111.6 sec
Mask Leakage:
Avg Leak: 45
90% Leak: 50
Max Leak: 75

Looking at the numbers I "assume" that there is quite a bit of room for improvement.

I have been trying to deal with mouth leaks. I wonder how much that skews the data.

I would appreciate your comments so I can draw a reference to this data and see where I'm at.

Thanks for your time,

Tom

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 2:54 pm

Tom, other than the leaks, I think your numbers look very good (the AHI is better than I get).

Also, you say you might have skewered the leak stats. But other than working to get those down, you're doing wonderfully.

Way to go!

roztom · Post by **roztom** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 3:03 pm

Thanks Linda:

What would be considered Good numbers:

AHI is 1.4 I've seen them below 1.
SI is 3.5 shouldn't I not be snoring?
Avg TIme in Apnea is 111 sec - DO you still have Apena's?

As far as leaks: What is a good number?

Thanks for your help.

Tom

NightHawkeye · Post by **NightHawkeye** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 4:41 pm

It's a rare night when my numbers are that low, Tom. I'm still tweaking.

As for leak rate, that varies depending on the interface you're using. Nasal masks typically have low leak rates. My full face mask has much higher leakage at times. The Swift is usually either pretty good or the leak rate can be anywhere, just usually not a "Large Leak".

Leaks don't seem to affect much until a "Large Leak" occurs, and at that point all bets seem to be off. Encore Pro usually doesn't report data when a Large Leak occurs.

Regards,
Bill

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 5:08 pm

I agree with the others, Tom...that's a wonderfully low number for your AHI. Anything below 5 AHI is doing very, very well.

Remember, even "normal" (non-OSA) folks can have some events during the night. That's why an AHI of 5 is considered the cutoff point at many sleep clinics. Less than 5 AHI wouldn't earn ya a cpap. So....your machine is doing exactly what it's supposed to do -- giving you good treatment.

I like to see my average leak rate no more than the mid-thirties, preferably low thirties or less. If I were going to tweak anything, I'd work on controlling leaks.

Looks like you're doing extremely well.

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 7:50 pm

Very Good! I would work on the leaks first. No mouth leaks allowed either. After that settles down, maybe bump it up to 9.5 for a few days, it might get the snore rate down and the OAI's, but all in all fine job. Jim

roztom · Post by **roztom** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 9:39 pm

Thank you, thank you, thank you for your encouagement and feedback.

It is good to know that I am on the right track.

Here are my numbers from my sleep study:
Hypopnia Index: 24.2/hr
AHI: 17.1 events/hr Non-Rem,; 71.7 events/hr in Rem
OXg Sat 94.9 down to 83.9%

SO there is my original data. I only had 2 Apneas during my orig study but the Hypopnia's were pretty heavy I guess in Rem.

Tom

roztom · Post by **roztom** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 9:42 pm

Can anyone give me a sense of where my leak numbers are compared to a good target number?

I am using the Swift alternating with a Mirage Nasal.

Thanks,

Tom

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 10:25 pm

Tom, sometimes I think numbers manipulate us when we set too much importance in them.

I have a higher leak index with Aura than I did with the Nasalaire. But I have a lower snore index with the Aura than with the Nasalaire. One offsets the other (in my mind).

But, as long as I like my nasal interface, and more importantly, AS LONG AS I FEEL GOOD, then I don't worry about it.

I refuse to let the numbers tell me how I feel.

roztom · Post by **roztom** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 8:04 am

Leak Numbers:

Can you give me an idea to intpret what those mean, please:

Max Leak: 100.6
90% Leak: 43.6
Avg Leak: 35.2
Large LEak: 15.8

Obviously, lower is better but what is the relationship between the numbers?

Thanks,

Tom

NightHawkeye · Post by **NightHawkeye** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 8:39 am

Tom,

Here are a few random things I think I've figured out so far about leakage.

To really understand the leak numbers requires detailed knowledge of the Respironics algorithm. Since I don't have that detailed knowledge I can only make some assumptions based on observations.

150 seems to be near the maximum the algorithm can detect and deal with.

With a constant leak of 150, the algorithm can deal with things effectively, but usually won't. The only time I know for sure that the algorithm can deal with a leak that large is if the leak is absolutely constant. One day not too long ago my machine dumped a lot of air all night long at the humidifier connection. The leak showed up at 150 in MyEncore but Encore Pro showed only modest leakage rates all night long. The auto function performed normally and there was no indication at all in Encore Pro of a problem.

Your mask ventilation port is equivalent to leakage, but the machine subtracts that out from its algorithm.

When the leakage with my Swift goes above 75, Encore Pro indicates a "Large Leak". I believe my other interfaces have different levels at which the dreaded "Large Leak" threshold is surpassed.

The only mask I've really been able to consistently under about 25 is my Ultra Mirage nasal mask. With both the Swift and Ultra Mirage FF masks, I'm happy when it stays below the "Large Leak" threshold all night long. Occasionally for me, both of these masks will give a Large Leak for brief periods.

Hope this helps.

Regards,
Bill

roztom · Post by **roztom** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 8:54 am

Thanks Bill & For everyone's comments:

Last night I started out with the Swift and I was settling down I head some air escaping some where and like you I found the connection between my HH and the unit was leaking. After resitting the HH & the unit and stopping the leak. I went along my way. I woke up to some rainout a few hours later and switched to my ULtra Mirage Nasal. That's where last nights numbers came from.

It seems all my leak numbers were pretty low on the Nasal mask. I don't know where the Max leak number came from unless it recorded the leak at the HH. Otherwise my Avg leak was 32 on the Nasal compared to 49 the prev night on the Swift.

Also all my numbers seemed much lower on the Nasal than the Swift.

This is very interesting to see. Of course, seeing my AHI & Snore much lower on the Nasal was also interesting. It's too soon for me to draw any conclusions about anything except as compared to my sleep test numbers, I'm doing good.

All I need now is to feel as good as I'm doing. I will find it interesting to see if there is any correlation between the numbers and how rested & alert I feel.

Thanks for your help and to everyone who has contributed to the collective knowledge of this forum.

ALSO: I am replacing my CPAP with an APAP tomorrow so it will interesting to see how the numbers compare. ALmost 3 weeks on the CPAP so I have some data to compare. MY RT told me he got my Dr to change the 'script from 5 - 10 I'm titrated at 9 to 5 - 20. I'm not thrilled about having it wide open at the top end but at least I'll be able to see how high I go and then I can always adjust the top end after I've got some data. Thoughts?

SIncerely,

Tom

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