I got a copy of my sleep study results today, and would like to find out more about what they mean.  Let me preface this by saying that the DME folks delivered equipment last week (the call from them was my first indication that I needed the stuff), and I am at a high pressure that's very uncomfortable (17/21 BiPAP).  Anyway, here goes.  

Numbers are shown as "without CPAP"/"with CPAP" ("Norms").

Total Recording Time: 467.7 min / 401.1 min (norm 434.55)
Total Sleep Time: 328.8 min / 320 min (norm 421.45)
Sleep Latency: 84 min / 14.9 min (norm 5.8) ---- This is how long it took me to fall asleep, right?
% Wake: 11.8 / 16.5 (norm 1.47)
% Stage 1: 6.5 / 4.4 (norm 5.71)
% Stage 2: 84.1 / 79.2 (norm 56.89)
% Stage 3/4: 5.3 / 8.6 (norm 12.46)
% REM: 4.0 / 7.8 (norm 23.47)
REM Latency: 368.5 min / 67 min (norm 85%) ---- These numbers seem way too different from each other!
Sleep Efficiency: 70.3 / 79.8 (norm 97%) ---- Doesn't seem like a big improvement to me.
# of Arousals: 35 / 38
Total Apneas/Hypopneas: 29 / 6 (norm <30)
RDI: 5.3 / 1.1 (norm <5)
REM RDI: 0 / 0 (norm <5)
RDI (Back): 6 / 1.1 (norm <5) ---- What is the difference between the two RDI values [RDI vs. RDI (Back)]?
# of Desats >3%: N/A / N/A (norm 0)
Minimum O2 Value: 78.8% / 88.1% (norm >93%)
% Time <90%: 2.7% / 0.1% (norm 0)
Basal Heart Rate: 64.5 / 54 (norm 50-100)
Slowest Heart Rate: 57 / 45 (norm >50)
Fastest Heart Rate: 72 / 63 (norm <100)
# of Periodic Leg Movements: 116 / 74 (norm <30)
PLMs/Hr: 21.2 / 13.9 (norm <5)
BP Pre: 124/85 / 141/83 (norm <150/90)
BP Post: 126/82 / 123/84 (norm <150/90)

Notes on Sleep Quality were as follows...
Without CPAP: Patient had fair sleep quality which was shallow and fragmented by 35 arousals from sleep. There was a prolonged sleep onset with a latency of 84 minutes. High percentages of wake, stage 1 and 2 while slow wave and REM were below normal. Sleep efficency was 70.3% compared with normal of 97%.
With CPAP: Patient had improved sleep quality which was deeper and more consolidated. Arousals increased from 35 to 38. Had high percentages of wake, stage 2 sleep while stage 1, slow wave and REM sleep were below normal. Sleep efficiency was 79.8%.

Diagnosis went from "Mild OSA" without CPAP to "Moderate OSA" with CPAP. Not sure about that; it doesn't make sense to me that diagnosis would get worse with treatment.


In addition to the in-line questions, other questions I have are:
1. What do the notes mean when they talk about "percentages of wake, stage 1..."?
2. Would the results with CPAP be considered a significant improvement? I felt like I had hardly slept at all after the 2nd study, and continue to feel that way every night I use CPAP. As contrast, I felt like I slept pretty well after the 1st study.
3. If I am going to really give BiPAP a chance, how do my pressures affect which style of mask I should try?  For instance, is one type of mask particularly good or bad at high pressures?


Thanks,
Andy