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New AHI treatment goal ? - Dawei - 03-31-2016
While returning a loaner machine today in exchange for my repaired S9 Autoset, I heard something surprising from the RT I've been dealing with at my DME. She told me that recently, the sleep center at the large community hospital informed her DME that from now on successful SA therapy is considered achieved when an AHI level below 10 (rather than the previous goal of 5) has been achieved. Patients with AHIs below 10 are asymptomatic, according to the hospital's sleep center.
Has anyone else heard this? I'm wondering if it's just this particular sleep center's new number, or if it's more widespread. I'm also wondering if this change was insurance driven, either by Medicare or private insurers.
Has there been some new research demonstrating that an AHI under 10 is good to go, when previously it was not. I doubt that.
David
RE: New AHI treatment goal ? - zonk - 03-31-2016
If my memory correct, I recall a French board member, said in France ... fewer than 10 events per hour is normal
As for me, I like my AHI to be below 1 or at most below 2, not 5 or 10
Edit: not sure, if he was talking about AHI or RDI
RE: New AHI treatment goal ? - TonyJ - 03-31-2016
(03-31-2016, 06:49 PM)Dawei Wrote: While returning a loaner machine today in exchange for my repaired S9 Autoset, I heard something surprising from the RT I've been dealing with at my DME. She told me that recently, the sleep center at the large community hospital informed her DME that from now on successful SA therapy is considered achieved when an AHI level below 10 (rather than the previous goal of 5) has been achieved. Patients with AHIs below 10 are asymptomatic, according to the hospital's sleep center.
Has anyone else heard this? I'm wondering if it's just this particular sleep center's new number, or if it's more widespread. I'm also wondering if this change was insurance driven, either by Medicare or private insurers.
Has there been some new research demonstrating that an AHI under 10 is good to go, when previously it was not. I doubt that.
David
10 is now the benchmark here.
RE: New AHI treatment goal ? - Dawei - 03-31-2016
thanks for the replies, Zonk and TonyJ. Tony, were you implying that there was a previous benchmark in Canada? If so, was it <5?
RE: New AHI treatment goal ? - chill - 04-01-2016
It varies by province. It is 5 in British Columbia. I feel much better with an AHI of < 3 than I did at < 10 earlier in the trial.
RE: New AHI treatment goal ? - Inspired - 04-01-2016
(03-31-2016, 07:47 PM)zonk Wrote: If my memory correct, I recall a French board member, said in France ... fewer than 10 events per hour is normal
As for me, I like my AHI to be below 1 or at most below 2, not 5 or 10
Edit: not sure, if he was talking about AHI or RDI
I'm with you. Who wants to stop breathing up to ten times an hour while asleep? It sounds like insurance companies are looking at dollars, instead of morbidity and mortality risk.
RE: New AHI treatment goal ? - tmoody - 04-01-2016
(04-01-2016, 08:20 AM)Inspired Wrote: I'm with you. Who wants to stop breathing up to ten times an hour while asleep? It sounds like insurance companies are looking at dollars, instead of morbidity and mortality risk.
It sounds like they may be looking only at morbidity and mortality risk, and not at quality of life. There may be little observable difference in health outcomes between AHI 5 and 10, even if most people feel better at or below 5. I guess this could stimulate the market for used machines.
RE: New AHI treatment goal ? - TonyJ - 04-01-2016
(03-31-2016, 08:19 PM)Dawei Wrote: thanks for the replies, Zonk and TonyJ. Tony, were you implying that there was a previous benchmark in Canada? If so, was it <5?
Yes, when I first started CPAP 2 and a half years ago I was told it was 5. It was only in January while I was at the DME that I noticed a chart on the RT's office wall showing the CPAP minimum objective and it was now listed at 10. That is the standard in this Province and may be different in others as previously noted by a BC resident.
RE: New AHI treatment goal ? - archangle - 04-01-2016
10 is a scam to deny insurance coverage.
Actually, 5 is at least partially a scam to deny insurance coverage.
RE: New AHI treatment goal ? - Ed1101 - 04-01-2016
I see many post here that seem very concerned about their AHI < some number. It is very interesting for me as my profile shows I had severe apnea ( SS AHI of 83) However, I never showed symptoms like daytime sleepiness, etc. With my AHI now < less than 2.0 for past 14 days I feel no different. I am committed to the long term because of the unseen long term health issues. Should One be fixated on AHI of 5 or 10 or how one feels every day?