The question marks state that I don't know how to interpret any of this.   Can anyone help to tell me what some of these results mean?

I had a sleep study done and the Oximetry Data section revealed the lowest O2 saturation was 86% and the amount of time that the saturation was below 89% was 0.5 min.  The same table lists "Average Wake (%) = 97.    What does this mean?  I know the 86% is low but how do I interpret that in the context of the amount of time that the saturation was below 89% as 0.5 min. ?

Sleep efficiency 91% and Arousal Index was 9.2/h

Respiratory data showed the # of Central Apnea = 2,  Obstructive Apnea = 2, Mixed Apnea = 4, total apnea = 8,  Hypopnea = 13..   what does all this mean?

I sure would appreciate any help with this.

Thanks!

If oxygen desats are below 90 for more than 3 min. supplemental oxygen may be prescribed (if cpap doesn't take care of the problem).  So .5min is not much of a concern.

sleep efficiency is the amount of time you slept during the study....91% is good.

arousal index is the average number of times you went to a lighter stage of sleep (but didn't actually wake up)

there should also be mention of the total apnea / hour....also called the AHI (apnea-hypopnea index).  This is the average of episodes for the time you were asleep and determines if your apnea is considered 'mild' (5-15/hour), 'moderate'(16-29/hour), or 'severe'.(over 30/hour) (If the average (the AHI) is less than 5/hr. it is not considered to be significant --- you are not diagnosed with sleep apnea).


 So if those numbers you posted are the actual numbers that occurred (not averages) then the AHI would be the total minutes you slept divided by 60 and then divided by 21 (your apneas + your hypopneas).  
(ex:  if you slept 7hr with 21  abnormal breathing episodes, your AHI would be 3 which is not considered 'significant' enough for a diagnosis of sleep apnea.  but, if you slept 3 hr w/ 21 episodes, your AHI would be 7 which is considered to be mild sleep apnea).

Some sleep labs  break down the AHI for each category (central apnea, obstructive apnea, mixed apnea, hypopnea)  so, if what you listed is actually separate AHI's there might be another place that names the 'overall AHI'.

central apneas: the cause is neurological response
obstructive apnea:  the cause  is physical blockage of your airway
mixed apnea: there is a combination of the above
hypopnea:  there was a 50% decrease in air flow, but not total cessation of air (like with apnea).

hope that helps....post more of the info on your report

thanks for the reply!

Yes, they list 21 total abnormal breathing events at 3.3/hr.  

Other data includes;
TST = 385 minutes
sleep onset latency 12 min
REM latency = 98.5 min
Stage 1 = 18.2 %
Stage 2 = 64.7%
Stage Delta 0.0%
Stage REM = 17.1%

They didn't list much other data in the report they sent me.
EEG was normal
ECG was without obvious abnormalities
Diagnosis 327.23 Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome/Hypersomnia.

Thanks!

I'm surprised they gave you a diagnosis of sleep apnea with the index being that low.  
The other info shows that you went to sleep pretty fast, esp. since it was the lab setting and you not getting any delta sleep is signifant---especially since you didn't have much apnea.  Delta sleep is the deep sleep that is restorative, without it you are probably very tired during the day (the hypersomnia diagnosis).

If I were you I would ask your dr if that few apnea is what kept you out of delta sleep, or if there is something else going on (don't know what that would be.....unless maybe just that you sleep too much during the day? so your body doesn't go into a deep sleep at night)

Thank you so much for your comments.  I will ask the Dr. about this.   I do not sleep during the day, I'm pretty active and fit but I am very sleepy during the day.
Thanks again!

It's possible that your AI was primarily respiratory.  If you snore loudly, then your AI + AHI may have been what tipped them to treating OSA.  The AI from respiratory events would fall under the category of UARS/RERA - which don't meet the strict criteria for hypopnea/obsturctive apnea, but can still result in significant EDS.  Be careful to check with your ins. company.  If they report your AHI as only 3.3 they likely won't pay for PAP.  Ideally if UARS is present and that's the big reason for the diagnosis, they should rescore it (albeit a little more loosely) to get you above 5.0 so your PAP is paid for.

The reason for the absent SWS could be multifactorial, including medications (benzodiazepines are notorius for doing this, though usually not to 0%) and age (as we age, our % of SWS decreases).  My guess is they saw UARS + some true obstructive events and determined you'd be better off with PAP.  

Again, this is just a guess, since the report is not available for review.

Best of luck!

Thanks!

They said I didn't snore at all.  I'm 44, pretty fit and the only meds I take are Synthroid (just started this 6 weeks ago) and Vasotec.  

Does SWS = Stage Delta ?

what is UARS/RERA ?   ...EDS?

Sorry - I'm pretty new to this stuff...

DDRidgeUSA wrote:

Thanks!

They said I didn't snore at all.  I'm 44, pretty fit and the only meds I take are Synthroid (just started this 6 weeks ago) and Vasotec.  

Does SWS = Stage Delta ?

what is UARS/RERA ?   ...EDS?

Sorry - I'm pretty new to this stuff...

Sorry for not explaining things and going in to acronym hell ;)

SWS = Slow Wave Sleep = Delta Sleep = Stage 3 (or 4) [if using old criteria] = N3 (if using new scoring criteria).  All are the same :)

UARS/RERA = Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome / Repsipratory Effort Related Arousals - doesn't meet the criteria for hypopnea/obstructive apnea (since there are strict scoring criteria for these), but can be just as contributory to sleepiness

EDS = excessive daytime sleepiness

If you don't snore, and your thyroid is well replaced, and your overall AHI was only 3.3 , then I'd question the need for PAP.  If EDS is the big issue, then I would inquire into a repeat sleep study with a following day MSLT to quantify your sleepiness.  You may have a disorder of hypersomnolence that has yet to be diagnosed.