Posted by lazyj on January 08, 2004 at 16:39:43:

I had an in-home sleep study, with a 6-channel recorder. The first night, the oximeter was so tight on my finger I could not sleep at all, my finger turned blue, and I aborted the study. I got a better oximeter the next night, but still could not fall asleep. At 2 A.M. I took a mild sedative (one known to increase OSA episodes), and slept until 6:30. I turned in the machine, with a note about my inability to sleep, the use of a sedative, and my concern about the validity of the data.

My HMO seems to have evaluated the data with no consideration of these factors. I had to press pretty hard to get the summary results. They measured 9 Central Apneas in the 8 hours, 3 obstructive apneas, and 127 hypopneas, of which 71 were for more than 20 seconds. Average saturation was 93. 128 desats were measured, 10% of desaturations were below 90%. Dividing the sum of all disturbances (3+9+127) by 8 hours (including 4 when I was watching TV and 4 when I was drugged) they got an RDI of 16.6.

Based on this, the HMO prescribed a CPAP, but were unwilling to let me have any role in choosing what machine I'd get (I travel extensively, and things like size and voltage capability matter to me).

My questions for people:

1) Is this data of any value at all given the short duration, in-home machine, and use of a sedative;
2) Is the small number of obstructive apneas (three) anything to worry about? How many have you had measured in a 4-hour period (forget the time watching TV)?
3) Is the number of central apneas (nine) a big deal? How many have you had measured?
4) What does a CPAP do for the central apneas? What I've read suggests nothing.

Lest anyone worry that I'm moving forward on this data, I'm not. My doctor has ordered a full in-clinic study by a well-respected hospital clinic, using a specialist with a great reputation.

Follow Ups:

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