Can someone help me with these readings?

Hi can someone help me with these readings?

It is for a Resmed Elite II I have a Mirage Quattro mask

I got into the clinicians menu and got these readings

Leak
.32 L/S
AHI 7.4
AI 1.3
HI 5.4

75 HRS USED CFM 15.

Krista,

Your leak rate is pretty high. You want to minimize it as best you can.
The quattro mask is a little finicky to adjust, but works well when you get it right.
ResMed machines seem to report higher numbers than other brands. This is because each manufacturer uses their own algorithms to score events
The overall goal is to get the AHI to less than 5. How to do that is the big question. You may just need time to adjust, your settings may be off, the leak rate may be interfering, etc.
You want to consider posting your pressure (that may be it at the bottom, but not sure what CFM stands for).

Good Luck

The numbers you posted don't make sense.

AI + HI = AHI. By definition.

When using the AHI < 5 rule of thumb, some folks here advise those with ResMed machines to divide HI by 2, add that to AI, and compare that number with 5.

ResMed machines tend to report more hypopneas than other brands. It's because each manufacturer uses different formulas to define a hypopnea. (an hypopnea?)

jdm2857 wrote:some folks here advise those with ResMed machines to divide HI by 2

Which in fact serves no worthwhile purpose at all, as it assumes that the "other" numbers are somehow better than those scored by Resmed, while in fact they are merely different.

Cheers,

Bill

It is an attempt to make ResMed AHI numbers comparable to those produced by the other company's machines.

The differing HI numbers are a result of each company's attempt to provide an accurate HI without having full PSG instrumentation. With just pressure and flow information, the machine algorithms have to estimate the true HI value.

I just purchased a ResMed S8 AutoSet II, so I certainly don't think that ResMed equipment is inferior. But some ResMed users try to compare their results with those of the many Respironics users here, and may feel that they are not as successful with their therapy. And so the attempt at a rough HI and AHI conversion.

My pressure setting is 15

There have been several incidents (since I am new at this) that I have disconnected the hose prior to turning off the machine. (Is it possible that is why my leak number is high?)

I have been having some leak issues with my quattro mask... I guess you have to find a fine balance between tight enough not to leak...but not so tight I wake up with my face all swollen from the straps...

I dont have a clue what was being said in the last three emails..???

Guess I will just try to shoot for an AHI of less than 5.... Still not sure how to make that happen..

Thanks for the responses

KristaDeAnn wrote:My pressure setting is 15

There have been several incidents (since I am new at this) that I have disconnected the hose prior to turning off the machine. (Is it possible that is why my leak number is high?)

I have been having some leak issues with my quattro mask... I guess you have to find a fine balance between tight enough not to leak...but not so tight I wake up with my face all swollen from the straps...

I dont have a clue what was being said in the last three emails..???

Guess I will just try to shoot for an AHI of less than 5.... Still not sure how to make that happen..

Thanks for the responses

You will pick up all the jargon in no time, KristaDeAnn.

The meaning of those numbers may depend somewhat on how long you have been on CPAP and what your sleep study showed. How long have you been using the machine? Do you have copies of your sleep studies yet?

In my opinion, if you are just starting out, those numbers don't look bad, other than the leak being borderline. And yes, turning the machine off before unplugging the hose may help that leak number. Is the right mask selected in the mask menu of the machine?

The masks these days do better the looser you wear them. Wearing a mask too tight can cause leaks.

Keep asking questions, and keep researching this site. I use the search function a lot, up at the top of this page.

jeff

Hi JNK
Thank you for the response...

I just started CPAP two weeks ago...

My mask is a Mirage Quattro... I had the Mirage Liberty first..but was having a horrible time whenever one of the pillows became dislodged...while I was sleeping .... I was so frustrated I went back to my DME and got the Full Face Quattro..doing much better with it.

Im debating on getting the ResScan software, I have noticed it seems it is only available from Australia now?? I dont know if I need the card reader for that software or if it would be a better idea to just get the USB cable? Havent had time to research that much yet.

Im glad I found this website...I found one that was a real blessing when I had to have open heart surgery to replace my mitral valve back in 05..I would have never made it through that experience without them

http://www.Valvereplacement.com

Glad you guys are here for this new adventure Im embarking on...

KristaDeAnn wrote:Hi JNK
Thank you for the response...

I just started CPAP two weeks ago...

My mask is a Mirage Quattro... I had the Mirage Liberty first..but was having a horrible time whenever one of the pillows became dislodged...while I was sleeping .... I was so frustrated I went back to my DME and got the Full Face Quattro..doing much better with it.

Im debating on getting the ResScan software, I have noticed it seems it is only available from Australia now?? I dont know if I need the card reader for that software or if it would be a better idea to just get the USB cable? Havent had time to research that much yet.

Im glad I found this website...I found one that was a real blessing when I had to have open heart surgery to replace my mitral valve back in 05..I would have never made it through that experience without them

http://www.Valvereplacement.com

Glad you guys are here for this new adventure Im embarking on...

I would not discourage you from getting the software, but I would like to point to the wise words of rested gal (of whom I'm a big fan), who said recently:

"I personally think that with a ResMed machine, the data you can get from the LCD window is sufficiently informative. I definitely would want software for other manfacturers' machines, but I wouldn't bother getting the ResMed software, myself. I'd use the AHI and leak info that's available in the mornings from the machine's window to make my tweaking decisions with a ResMed machine. Just my opinion."--viewtopic/t43079/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=42 ... 03#p377303

So, I would wait a few months before deciding on software, if it was me. If you find you need more info, you can go for it then. I use the USB cable, so I have to move my machine to the computer. I think most use the card and card reader combo.

Your heart surgery makes it important for you to have your sleep study in hand. And you may want to note that a lot of the information talked about in this forum is about simple obstructive sleep apnea without other complicating factors. I am no doctor, but it may be, just maybe, that you have reason not to change any adjustments on your machine, in your case, without consulting with one.

billbolton wrote:

jdm2857 wrote:some folks here advise those with ResMed machines to divide HI by 2

Which in fact serves no worthwhile purpose at all, as it assumes that the "other" numbers are somehow better than those scored by Resmed, while in fact they are merely different.

Cheers,

Bill

jdm2857 wrote:It is an attempt to make ResMed AHI numbers comparable to those produced by the other company's machines.
----
some ResMed users try to compare their results with those of the many Respironics users here, and may feel that they are not as successful with their therapy. And so the attempt at a rough HI and AHI conversion.

Exactly. Well said, jdm.

The whole reason for my oft made suggestion to "cut ResMed's HI in half" is for more even-playing-field (imho) comparison purposes with the data from other brands of machines. In fact, I've joked a couple of times that one could do it the other way just as easily. For comparison purposes, you could double the HI from a Respironics machine.

What jdm said is exactly why I often suggest that ResMed users cut the HI in half, then add that to the AI, to get a new "AHI." It serves a very worthwhile purpose, imho. It serves the purpose of helping many ResMed users not feel discouraged when they keep reading about how the AHI should be under 5.0, but they may never see an AHI below 5.0 simply because of ResMed's definition of "hypopnea."

It doesn't mean ResMed's is a bad definition, or that other manufacturers use better definitions of "hypopnea." As you say, Bill, it's merely "different." It just happens to be a difference, however, that will often produce a higher HI (hypopnea index) number from a ResMed machine than from the other major brand (Respironics.)

Doesn't mean one is better than the other.
Doesn't mean one is accurate and the other isn't.
Doesn't mean one sees something the other misses.
Doesn't mean one imagines something the other says isn't there.

They just have different definitions of "hypopnea."

As long as people are going to strive for AHI under 5.0, and especially if they are going to compare their results using a ResMed machine then using a Respironics machine (or vice versa), I'd suggest they mentally cut the ResMed HI number in half.

I do have copies my sleep study result. I do not know what the numbers mean, but I could post the information if someone could decipher it for me. I would just need to know which numbers/readings are needed.

and thanks for your help... I think I will take rested gals advice regarding the software..but can you tell me how I can get the information in the digital display each morning? I usually just reach over and push the off button as soon as my alarm goes off...so I havent noticed if there is informataion displayed there or not..

Do exactly what you did to get the numbers in your first post.

Leak is the amount of air leak after correcting for the designed-in mask leak. Hopefully your DME set the mask setting for your mask. The lower the better, but you really want it below .33 liters/second (= 20 liters/min).

AI is the Apnea Index It is the average number of times you stop breathing per hour.

HI is the Hypopnea Index. It is the average number of times your breath is reduced by at least 50% per hour.

AHI is the Apnea Hypopnea Index. It is the sum of AI and HI.

Now you might want to go back and re-read the posts about mentally adjusting ResMed HI and AHI for comparison purposes.

KristaDeAnn wrote:I do have copies my sleep study result. I do not know what the numbers mean, but I could post the information if someone could decipher it for me. I would just need to know which numbers/readings are needed.

and thanks for your help... I think I will take rested gals advice regarding the software..but can you tell me how I can get the information in the digital display each morning? I usually just reach over and push the off button as soon as my alarm goes off...so I havent noticed if there is informataion displayed there or not..

She was referring the same information you posted in your first post in this thread, information that you can usually get by pushing the left arrow and right arrows simultaneously for five seconds or so, or however you got to the information before.

If you wish to post info from your sleep study, some just type the info themselves, like this post:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=42901&p=379202#p379129

Others mark through personal information then post links to the pages as posted to a photo site, like this poster did:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=42498&p=374387#p374387

Your study should indicate how many of your events during the night were central and how many were obstructive. That information may be particularly important to anyone deciding whether she may one day eventually want to make some minor tweaks to her machine to get AHI as low as possible, hopefully with her doc's permission. Although, like I said, the numbers don't look bad now, for starting out.

Help with the definitions can be found in the first post to this thread:

viewtopic/t35702/Where-A-CPAP-Newbie-Should-Start.html

Are you using the ramp feature on your machine? My understanding is that during ramp time, your machine doesn't count the wake-to-sleep-transition apneas and hypopneas against you as you first fall asleep.

jeff

I will post the information on my sleep study when I get home from work.. Sometimes I use the ramp and other times I do not... If I am watching TV while falling asleep I use the ramp for 30 min... If I am turning out the lights and going straight to sleep I am not using the ramp..

I will also try to get the information off my machine again tonight too. Are those readings for each night...or are they averaged over the number of hours used... ? Im assuming each night....in which case last night would probably be a good one to get the readings as I slept all night with the mask on and turned off the machine the one time I did get up...

I appreciate your time...

As with my heart valve I can tell there is much to learn about my sleep apnea..

At noon, your machine rolls the nightly numbers into the weekly, monthly, yearly data, which is nice because you can see how your nightly compares. Here is a link to a post from Velbor (another one of my forum favorites) explaining the information from an Elite (so it may be structured slightly differently from your Elite II) that should give you a good idea of what you are looking at and what it means:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=33722&p=286673#p286673