Are machines numbers accurate?

My machine is reporting an average of 29 AHI’s per hour since early January. I had 2 sleep studies. The first was inconclusive as I wasn’t able to sleep long enough to obtain an accurate study. The second showed only 15 events/hour that were relieved with a CPAP pressure of 15 and I was subsequently started on CPAP. Mask leakage is not a problem. I’ve tried adjusting the pressure up and using the ‘Autoset’ mode with no real change. Just wondering what numbers I should trust and any recommendations you guys may have. Just FYI, neither the sleep center nor the DME provider have been willing to say anything. My doctor is a pulmonologist and doesn’t seem to understand my concern. Thanks in advance!

BillSc wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 27, 2020 5:30 pm

My machine is reporting an average of 29 AHI’s per hour since early January. I had 2 sleep studies. The first was inconclusive as I wasn’t able to sleep long enough to obtain an accurate study. The second showed only 15 events/hour that were relieved with a CPAP pressure of 15 and I was subsequently started on CPAP. Mask leakage is not a problem. I’ve tried adjusting the pressure up and using the ‘Autoset’ mode with no real change. Just wondering what numbers I should trust and any recommendations you guys may have. Just FYI, neither the sleep center nor the DME provider have been willing to say anything. My doctor is a pulmonologist and doesn’t seem to understand my concern. Thanks in advance!

welcome to the zoo! if doctors would pay attention to their sleep apnea patients and offered good advice, there would be no need for this forum! seriously, you aren't alone in this as we've all been there.

first up, we need to know if the machine you've selected in your profile is the you actually have. there are many different airsense models. could you check this list and verify?

wiki/index.php/CPAP_models

i'm not just being pedantic here. not all of these models are the same. and i want to be sure the model you have is fully data capable.

why? because then you can get the free software oscar and start monitoring your own data. even better, you can upload data here for the experts to look over and advise upon.

but to fully answer your question: yes, the numbers are accurate.

good luck!

No! But close enough to allow you to get your treatment correct, after all the human body isn't very accurate either. Jim

He said he has tried the autoset mode..I guess he has an Autoset

The answer is both Yes and No at the same time.
Your CPAP machine accurately reports what is going on during your sleep.
And, … the in-lab accurately records (after certain adjustments) what was going on during your sleep study.

The problem in comparing the two results comes from the baseline definition of a sleep event is different between the two.
For example, suppose both systems see an interruption in your breathing that is the result of an obstructive event.
Your home machine will record that as an OSA event (if your machine is a full data machine.)
The in-lab machine will record in the same way BUT when finally scored, the event sometimes will be as if it never happened. If your EEG recording indicates that an arousal or actual awakening is taking place at the same time, the event is not scored so the results will be different. The technicians can tell whether or not you are "asleep" and only score events then.

The implication is that the in-lab results will be lower than that reported at home. If your sleep is nice and steady with out many arousals / awakenings, then the results will be close.
If your sleep is quite disturbed, the results will be very different.

Thanks for the responses. The machine is a brand new Airsense 10 Autoset. On the list it’s identified as #37028. I’m very interested in trying the software if it works with my machine. My doctor has recommended another CPAP Titration Study to see if the pressure needs further adjusting. I didn’t tell him that I had already changed it myself to 16 and later changed it to the Autoset mode. Nothing I’ve done so far has had any effect on the number of AHI’s. I’m really reluctant to do another sleep study. Not sure what these numbers represent, however, the machine shows the following under ‘Sleep Report’ (Technician mode):

AHI 28.6
Total AI 27.7
Central AI 26.0

If applicable, I would love to try the software and hopefully post my results.

Thanks again!

BillSc wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 27, 2020 10:21 pm

If applicable, I would love to try the software and hopefully post my results.

Thanks again!

do you have an sd card? if so, stick it in your machine and let it capture data overnight.

i wish one of those experts would show up now. i'm not entirely certain still that oscar will work in your machine.

JDS74 wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 27, 2020 10:12 pm

The answer is both Yes and No at the same time.
Your CPAP machine accurately reports what is going on during your sleep.
And, … the in-lab accurately records (after certain adjustments) what was going on during your sleep study.

The problem in comparing the two results comes from the baseline definition of a sleep event is different between the two.

No, the problem in comparing them comes from the fact that a sleep study is a brief snapshot of *one night's (or less) sleep*.

Sleep varies from night to night, and even hour to hour.

BillSc wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 27, 2020 10:21 pm

Thanks for the responses. The machine is a brand new Airsense 10 Autoset.

You have the wrong machine selected in your profile.

The one you want says "AutoSet", and it's under the R's, not the A's.

BillSc wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 27, 2020 10:21 pm

If applicable, I would love to try the software and hopefully post my results.

It's applicable.

The numbers are good "enough" to use in tweaking your therapy.
Lab sleep tests are a picture of only ONE night, but your cpap reports every night used.
Obviously, we have potentially superior reporting, by virtue of quantity alone.
Shhhhh, some lab owners will be upset--but who cares?

What are your settings now.
What have you changed.
Are you using EPR ?

AHI 28.6
Total AI 27.7
Central AI 26.0


The majority of events are Central in nature your Autoset won’t help that you need to be on a different machine a BiLevel fixed it for some people but often an ASV will be required if you don’t have heart problems

Jas_williams wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 28, 2020 7:03 am

AHI 28.6
Total AI 27.7
Central AI 26.0

Well, that just *screams* GET OSCAR

Jas_williams wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 28, 2020 7:03 am

The majority of events are Central in nature your Autoset won’t help that you need to be on a different machine a BiLevel fixed it for some people but often an ASV will be required if you don’t have heart problems

If the centrals a're real.

Believe I have the correct machine now in my profile. Presently using the Autoset vice CPAP mode. Hope that’s okay. Will try to have an SD card placed into the machine tonight.

One thing I wanted to mention is my sleep doctor talked about sending me to a neurologist. He says they have meds available to help with people having centrals. Wasn’t aware of that. Wonder if that’s true?

Thanks for everything!

Bill

There are meds to help with central apneas but those are usually given when the people are having central apneas due to altitude issues.
So it's true but they aren't commonly given except in special situations.