Sudden Apnea Interpretation

[dougwonpart]

    Hello, I'm a doctor (not sleep medicine) and CPAP user with a very light obstructive pattern.

My brother (28 yo, no apnea history, not overweight, no sleep studies done) yesterday started having trouble sleeping.

He said every time he would go to deeper sleep he would wake up feeling he couldn't breath.

I gave my CPAP (after proper cleaning) for him to use on auto just to see if it could help him, as he was very anxious and couldn't get any sleep because of this (still can't). 

His difficulties were registered, I'm sharing the OSCAR data.

If someone could help with the interpretation I would appreciate.


(for context, he is currently having a rheumatic sacroiliitis flare up and is taking NSAIDs for some days).

(My hypothesis is his sleep is more superficial now, and he is perceiving an apnea he always had. But I'm not sure.

We'll continue investigating. I've never seem a sudden onset of apnea like this.)

Thank you for any help given.

   

   

   

[dougwonpart]

   

   

   

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Sorry for the confusing screenshares, still getting used to this platform

[mlmollenkamp]

It appears he has no obstructive apnea, but a lot of hypopneas and clear airway events.  This would, at least in my estimation, indicate he possibly has central sleep apnea.  Given his AHI is above 5 he would qualify under insurance for treatment if a sleep study confirms what you found. I suggest consulting with a pulmonologist for a sleep study.

[Deborah K.]

The starting pressure is too low for an adult.  4-20 is the entire pressure range offered on this machine.  Four is generally used for small children.  Raise his starting pressure to 7.

His flow limits are high, even while using EPR 3.  This may indicate that he needs a ResMed AirCurve 10 or 11 (10 is better) Vauto.  This is a bilevel machine that offers more advanced treatment.

A good sleep study will show the types of apnea he has and how much he has of each type.  I think the CAs presently showing are probably treatment-emergent and will lessen on their own as time passes.

Best wishes for achieving great therapy and comfort for your son and you!