Is it normal to drop below 88%? (can anyone interpret this SPO2 report?)

[crave303]

I had a link to a SPO2 report I got from a overnight pulse oximeter, but I not got 4 posts so can't link it. 

so I will ask this question instead.

Is it normal for non sleep apnea people to drop below 88% SPO2?

[crave303]

I will try type it out!


event data SPO2

total event   166
time in event (min)   65
avg event duration (sec)   23.5
index 1/hr   21.3
artefact %   0.1
adjusted index 1/hr   21.4

SPO2 data

basal SPO2 (%)   92.9
time (min) < 88%   1.1
events < 88%   13
minimum SPO2 (%)   84
avg low SPO2 (%)   89.9
avg low SPO2 <88%   86.3

[ForeverDozing]

From the info, you have an Oxygen Desaturation Index (ODI) of 21 : ie 21 times per hour you oxygen level drops significantly. 

This may well disturb your sleep and make you feel tired. If you are feeling tired, this is probably enough information for a doctor to arrange a sleep study for further informatiion.

I suggest you see a doctor!

[crave303]

Thanks for replying... 21 times an hour? Damn.

I definitely feel like I've had non refreshing sleep for years and I am schedule to see a doc.

I read it as an accumulative of 1 minute (1.1) below 88%... over a full nights sleep that didn't seem so bad. But 21 disturbances an hours seem bad.

[ForeverDozing]

I think it is pretty bad. Its similar to my numbers, and for me CPAP has helped a lot.

Some people say that if it doesnt drop below 90% often it is not too bad : I would deny that. Sleep disturbance caused by an ODI event is pretty bad on its own!

Good luck.

[Gideon]

Per Medicare <= 88% for 8+ minutes justifies nighttime supplemental oxygen.
21 times means that 21 times per hr your O2 dropped by 4% ie from 100% to 96% for 10 seconds counts.
The question is what caused the drop. A Sleep study would determine if it was apnea.