What does this mean?

[HalfAsleep]

Unless that is your titration study, you don't have Sleep Apnea. You had no Obstructive events except for the "mixed", whatever they are considering that to be.

Oh yeah. I didn't think of that. So HalfAsleep, if you had an AHI of 18 and it was lowered to 1.9 by CPAP therapy (which is what Paula is saying) then the CPAP therapy is working for you. The fact that the events were mixed or central means nothing because you had so few of them.

That was a first-time sleep study, not a titration. Evidently, I had 11 centrals during that time?

I had a total of 114 events during the night.

I think I'm figuring this out....Those 11 centrals have an AHI of 1.9. All the other events of poor breathing with over 3% desat had an AHI of 16.1. Total AHI is 18.

Centrals just refer to source, correct? The source is the brain, not the throat? But you can have central hypopneas and/or central apneas?

So, this begs the question...Is a central AHI of 1.9 significant?

[Sleepster]

Centrals just refer to source, correct? The source is the brain, not the throat?

Correct.

But you can have central hypopneas and/or central apneas?

I've never heard of a central hypopnea. I don't see how it would be possible to have one because during a hypopnea you're breathing, it's just that you're breathing too slowly.

So, this begs the question...Is a central AHI of 1.9 significant?

No, it is not clinically significant. You have obstructive sleep apnea. Now, a CPAP machine can induce central sleep apnea. Sometimes it subsides and sometimes it doesn't. If it doesn't then you can lower the pressure, and in the case of bi-level therapy you can also lower the pressure support, to attempt to treat the situation. Lowering the pressure may cause your obstructive or hypopnea indices to rise. If all else fails, you try CPAP therapy with a ASV machine.

[richb]

Yes you can have Central Hypopnea.  It is often characterized by periodic breathing.  The wave form is like a normal breath only in miniature.  Obstructive Hypopneas on the other hand have a flattened top indicating an airway closed or partially closed during the breath.  In my sleep study (1st) I had an AHI of 44 all Central Hypopnea.  

Rich

[HalfAsleep]

Yes you can have Central Hypopnea.  It is often characterized by periodic breathing.  The wave form is like a normal breath only in miniature.  Obstructive Hypopneas on the other hand have a flattened top indicating an airway closed or partially closed during the breath.  In my sleep study (1st) I had an AHI of 44 all Central Hypopnea.  

Rich

Yoewza with the 44...

I think I'm getting it....bad breath (pnea) is classified by source and degree. Either from the brain (central) or the throat (obstructive) AND either apnea (which means "no breath") or hypopnea (which means "too little breath").

I have a lot of hypopneas and most come from the throat.

I guess we'll see what they come up with for equipment.

I bet I have centrals during the day....I wonder if there's a solution for that....