Help reading sleep study results

[dudegoskate]

Hi everyone. I just got my sleep study results back today and I was wondering if anyone could help me understand what I’m looking at? The doctor sort of went over it with me but made it seem like it wasn’t so bad but I’m not sure. A little concerned about REM being only 3% but not sure how serious that might be considering the Dr. didn’t even bring it up. Here are my results, thanks in advance!

[gainerfull]

You have severe sleep apnea and would likely benefit from a CPAP machine. What else would you like to know?

[dudegoskate]

You have severe sleep apnea and would likely benefit from a CPAP machine. What else would you like to know?

Thanks for the reply! I guess you pretty much answered my question for the most part. How did you come up with severe sleep apnea? The Dr was saying that it was mild and that I actually might have a hard time getting insurance to cover considering my results, so since that's the case, do you think that a CPAP would still be worth it if I end up having to pay for one myself?

[cdplatt]

I'm seeing a total of 36  events over 5 hours and 43 minutes of sleep time and a calculated PAHI of 6.6 per hour.  That would be very mild apnea. I wouldn't be concerned with the REM sleep. All the stuff strapped to you for your test could easily interrupt your normal sleep pattern.

[stevew77]

I agree, your sleep apnea seems to be mild. I'm surprised they do not classify the apneas as central vs. obstructive. My sleep study was much more detailed.

[dudegoskate]

I agree, your sleep apnea seems to be mild. I'm surprised they do not classify the apneas as central vs. obstructive. My sleep study was much more detailed.

Thanks for the reply. I wouldn’t even know what to look for as far as central vs obstructive. This test was done on a watchpat 300. How about yours?

[stevew77]

[align=center]Mine was done in a sleep clinic, apparently with an automated program. It showed the stages of sleep and types of apneas, even though by my recollection I only fell asleep for about 15 minutes after starting the ASV program and others first, they titrated me on after about 1.5 hours without one. They made me sleep on my back the entire time. What a load of crap! When I become a Registered Polysomnographic Sleep Technologist soon I will never require supine position all night long unless the patient says that is their preferred sleep position, or the doctor orders it.

[cdplatt]

The WatchPat 300 is a peripheral arterial tonometry device.  Those types of devices have difficulty identifying central apnea events or distinguishing them from obstructive apnea.  The most accurate test would be polysomnography in a sleep lab.  The WatchPat 300 would be a good initial screening device though and based on your results, you don't have much to be concerned about.  CPAP is an option for you, but the sleep disruptions from the CPAP treatment (mask discomfort, air leaks, pressure changes, etc) might offset any gain from reducing the limited apnea events you're encountering.  Your doctor will probably give you a prescription for a CPAP device if you ask and you could try it out, but as you read all the posts on this site, getting real benefit and good sleep with CPAP/APAP therapy can be a challenge.  I doubt if it would be a life changer for you.

[dudegoskate]

I think that’s what I’m mostly struggling with in my head. Would I really want to spend thousands for something that may not even help considering it’s so mild? Has anyone here seen any improvement with using a CPAP and mild OSA as far as sleepiness and anxiety go? Thanks to everyone who has already replied.

[cdplatt]

I was diagnosed with mild apnea - slightly worse than yours.  I have finally become comfortable with the therapy - using a pillows mask and taping my mouth - after spending hundreds of dollars on masks and hoses and trying different methods to control air leaks through my mouth.  It has not improved the subjective quality of my life.  I don't believe I'm sleeping much better than I was before - I sleep well.  Unquestionably, it has eliminated the associated intermittent O2 desaturations that research indicates are the culprits in the cardio vascular complications associated with apnea - like high blood pressure.  That was my initial concern.  My fitbit was reporting high O2 variations while sleeping.  I didn't know if that was something to be concerned about, so I asked my doctor about it.  I took an at-home sleep study and the pulmonologist suggested I could try APAP, though he acknowledged that PAP therapy was controversial for mild apnea. My test results were sufficient to qualify me for therapy under Medicare.  

Very little research on apnea health consequences is based on mild apnea.  Almost all of the research is based on moderate to severe apnea.  With mild apnea, you may be able to significantly reduce it without PAP therapy - weight management, sleeping on your side, breathing through your nose (nasal dilators/decongestant measures).  If your test results are not significant enough for insurance coverage, I would recommend trying those measures before you leap into PAP therapy.