CPAP appbreviations

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
CCwantstosleep
Posts: 4
Joined: Tue Jan 26, 2010 6:38 pm

CPAP appbreviations

Post by CCwantstosleep » Mon Feb 01, 2010 5:46 pm

I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea (89.9 episodes/hour without the CPAP) in December 2009. I just got my ResMed S8 Elite II on Jan 4. Thanks to your board, I figured out how to access the data, but there are two abbreviations I can't figure out: AI and HI. I know that AHI is Apnea Hypopnea Index. My readings from last night were:
Leaks: 0.0
AHI 0.8
AI 0.0
HI 0.8

How accurate is the data regarding leaks. I sleep pretty quietly on my back, but 0.00 - really?

I'm using the machine all night, every night and only feel slightly better than I did before I got the machine. Can someone clue me in to what these readings mean?

amos
Posts: 325
Joined: Wed Sep 20, 2006 3:11 pm

Re: CPAP appbreviations

Post by amos » Mon Feb 01, 2010 6:41 pm

AI = APNEA INDEX
HI = HYPOPNEA INDEX

amos

CCwantstosleep
Posts: 4
Joined: Tue Jan 26, 2010 6:38 pm

Re: CPAP appbreviations

Post by CCwantstosleep » Mon Feb 01, 2010 7:23 pm

Thanks Amos, but I can't find any definitions of those terms. What is the difference between the two and how do they relate to the AHI?

amos
Posts: 325
Joined: Wed Sep 20, 2006 3:11 pm

Re: CPAP appbreviations

Post by amos » Mon Feb 01, 2010 7:32 pm

An apnea is a 100% closing of the soft tissues in the back of the throat for at least 10 seconds. A hypopnea is a 50% or more closing of the soft tissues in the back of the throat for at least 10 seconds. The AHI or apnea-hypopnea index is the average of the combination of these two over a period of one hour. Your AHI of 0.8 means that you averaged less than one event each hour last night. You actually had no apnea events at all, only hyponea events. This btw, is excellent since doctors conclude that anything under 5.0 is good.

amos