The Apnea Hypopnea Index (AHI) level is utilized to reveal the severity of obstructive sleep apnea. The AHI is the quantity of the total number of apneas (pauses in breathing) along with the number of hypopneas (periods of shallow breathing) that take place approximately each hour. An apnea event can happen when your breathing pauses while you are asleep. The periodic pause can be due to the tongue or the soft palate blocking your airway.
Based on the AHI level, the seriousness of obstructive sleep apnea, (OSA) is categorized.
Mild:
AHI ≥ 5 < 15 / hour
Moderate:
AHI ≥ 15 < 30 / hour
Severe:
AHI ≥ 30 / hour
The AHI, as with the separate Apnea Index and Hypopnea Index, is calculated by dividing the number of events by the number of hours of sleep.
Not only is the AHI a beneficial way to determine how critical your sleep apnea is, but it can also help you establish how well your body is responding to your current treatment plan.
Each time an apnea event occurs, it can cause you to startle and abruptly wake up from sleep. It can also affect the amount of oxygen in your blood. This event may cause the oxygen level to drop suddenly and drastically.
Hypopnea describes an event of shallow breathing. Typically, this is considered less severe than apneas. Current studies define hypopnea as approximately 30% decrease in the amount of circulating oxygen in your blood.
To count in the classification of apneas and hypopneas, they need have an interval of at least 10 seconds.
Occasionally the Respiratory Disturbance Index (RDI) is used. This can be unclear because the RDI incorporates not only apnea and hypopnea events, but may also contain other, more understated, breathing abnormalities. Basically, this can mean a person's RDI can be higher than his or her AHI.
Declines in oxygen levels; commonly referred to as “desaturations” are recorded during polysomnography, which is the “sleep study” that determines the diagnosis of sleep apnea. These analyses usually take place in a sleep center, but more commonly, sleep apnea is diagnosed using home sleep apnea testing.
During your preliminary sleep study, you'll be given a starting point AHI. That data will be utilized, along with other considerations, to find the best therapy possibilities for you. These studies track your breathing patterns through the night.
If you are diagnosed with sleep apnea and are prescribed a CPAP machine. This device will continue to analyze your AHI numbers as you sleep. Your sleep doctor or provider can make use of this information to ensure you're getting the most beneficial treatment possible.
Prolonged, ongoing oxygen desaturations may raise your risk of long-term health conditions, such as cardiovascular complications, including high blood pressure, heart attack, and heart failure. Other chronic medical conditions may also arise like diabetes; in addition, the oxygen deprivation could also lead to stroke, dementia, or other neurological problems.
Getting tested is the first step in getting treatment. Take the step in the right direction to protect your health and prevent unnecessary complications. Talk to your doctor today.
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