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[Treatment] Link between mask seal and AHI
#1
Link between mask seal and AHI
I am happy with my Autosense 10 and Dreamwear.  My mask seal is always good (about half the time it is unmeasurable), and my AHI is almost always <1.0.  Maybe once a  month it goes a fraction above 1.0.

My wife, on the other hand, has the Autoset version.  Once she falls asleep, her mask seal is between 20 - 30 L/min.  But her AHI is less than 4.0.  When she falls asleep w/o her mask, I do not hear any apnea episodes (they used to be dramatic and frequent).  Naturally, I can't tell about her hypopnea.

Is there really a strong link between mask seal and AHI??? 

Thinking-about
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#2
RE: Link between mask seal and AHI
(04-16-2017, 01:45 PM)wiscman Wrote: I am happy with my Autosense Airsense 10 and Dreamwear.  My mask seal is always good (about half the time it is unmeasurable), and my AHI is almost always <1.0.  Maybe once a  month it goes a fraction above 1.0.

My wife, on the other hand, has the Autoset version.  Once she falls asleep, her mask seal is between 20 - 30 L/min.  But her AHI is less than 4.0.  When she falls asleep w/o her mask, I do not hear any apnea episodes (they used to be dramatic and frequent).  Naturally, I can't tell about her hypopnea.

Is there really a strong link between mask seal and AHI??? 

Thinking-about

Welcome

I have to assume you mean her leak level is between 20 - 30 L/min.  At that level, detection of events becomes problematic.
Her mask is either not properly fitted for her; or, not a good choice. If she is using a nasal or pillows mask, the leak may be because her mouth is open.
(You should be able to hear that.)

So, as to the question: "Is there really a strong link between mask seal and AHI?"  The answer is not clear-cut.  A leaking mask should deliver therapy and the machine detect events up to a certain leak limit.  When you get into 20 - 30 LPM leak, efficacy of therapy suffers and event detection becomes unreliable.

The bottom line is: fix those leaks.
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#3
RE: Link between mask seal and AHI
During a high leak event, the machine cannot properly determine when an event is happening. They work by detecting the flow rate and by sending air pulses. A leak will counter act both of those as the feedback the machine is getting isn't accurate. Any events detected during a high leak could be false readings. Or could be true. And there could be other events not marked.

Have her fix her mask issues and see what happens.
PaulaO

Take a deep breath and count to zen.




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#4
RE: Link between mask seal and AHI
Hi wiscman,
WELCOME! to the forum.!
Good luck to you and your wife with your CPAP therapy.
Hang in there for more responses to your post.
trish6hundred
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#5
RE: Link between mask seal and AHI
Thank you all.  Now, to fix that leak.
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