UARS: What are your ODI 4 % numbers with good/bad bi-level therapy?

[THEVGE]

In my search of good UARS therapy using bi-level I am currently focusing on ODI (Oxygen Desaturation Index) 4 % using a pulse oximeter (re-branded Contec 50 series). I do see a reduction at higher pressure, but wonder how far I have to go and what your typical ODI numbers are in relation to how well you feel. Getting 0 AHI and 0 leak is easy for me (typical UARS), getting good sleep is not, hence this new KPI I am chasing.

Example for me (I see this correlation for multiple pressures):

P 7,6/PS 5,0 (IPAP 12,6) = 18,5 ODI 4 % events/hr + risk of desaturation < 88 %.
P 10/PS 5,0 (IPAP 15,0) = 4,4 ODI 4 % events/hr + no risk of desaturation < 88 %.

It seems that I can still have limited desaturations < 88 % at IPAP ~ 14 or below. So it makes sense for me to stay > 14. It is too early to state if my subjective sleep quality has increased, but I am positive although CA's (TESCA) started to emerge at these pressures. I decided to stick to P 10/PS 5 (IPAP 15) for a while and see if the CA's reduce, if my ODI 4 % remains stable and if my sleep improves before changing a setting.

Any numbers out there for people with good and bad UARS therapy using bi-level?

[Jay51]

Great job figuring this out.  You have one tool at your disposal with the VAuto that can help prevent CA's.  It is the trigger setting.  Moving up to high (and better yet, very high) has shown to decrease CA's in many charts that I have personally seen here at ApneaBoard.

[THEVGE]

Thanks Jay51, I am aware of the trigger settings. I used "very high" to get no CA's but often felt like driven over by an Abrams tank.......not good. I am now on "high" and although I have ~ AHI 5 in CA's I feel better than with AHI 0. I hope that my body is able to recover the coming days, if not, I will try trigger "very high" again.