Sleep apnea is diagnosed when apnea events exceed how many per hour?

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Multiple Choice

Sleep apnea is diagnosed when apnea events exceed how many per hour?

The test is looking at the threshold used with the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) to define sleep apnea. The AHI counts how many breathing pauses (apneas) and shallow breaths with reduced airflow (hypopneas) occur per hour of sleep. AHI greater than five per hour indicates sleep-disordered breathing that qualifies as sleep apnea when symptoms are present, and it’s the cut-off used to diagnose the condition. Clinically, the severity is then categorized as mild (about 5 to less than 15), moderate (15 to less than 30), or severe (30 or more). So crossing the line to more than five events per hour is the threshold that aligns with a sleep apnea diagnosis.

The test is looking at the threshold used with the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) to define sleep apnea. The AHI counts how many breathing pauses (apneas) and shallow breaths with reduced airflow (hypopneas) occur per hour of sleep. AHI greater than five per hour indicates sleep-disordered breathing that qualifies as sleep apnea when symptoms are present, and it’s the cut-off used to diagnose the condition. Clinically, the severity is then categorized as mild (about 5 to less than 15), moderate (15 to less than 30), or severe (30 or more). So crossing the line to more than five events per hour is the threshold that aligns with a sleep apnea diagnosis.

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