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Pulse Oximetry
More and more of us are buying pulse oximeters, despite the fact that the majority of the sleep clinics in the UK seem to want to keep their patients in blissful ignorance of their actual sleep patterns.
However those of us who want to learn more about their sleep patterns face the problem that we are not trained in how to interpret the results given by these oximeters. My understanding from research data is that the results from pulse oximeters correlate very closely with full polysomnography. If that is right, oximeter users should be able to use their results to indicate accurately whether the pressure they are using is properly controlling their OSA.
To start this discussion I would like to pose the following questions, which are based on my own oximeter (CMS50F). Obviously there may be some other machines which give more, or better, information. If so, details here would greatly assist other users and potential users.
1. What is Basal SpO2(%) and is it significant?
2. My oximeter is pre-set with a "Desaturation Criteria Level" of 88%. What is the significance of this figure, and should I alter it up or down?
3.How low should the "Average low Sp02 %" be, before it is considered abnormal?
4. Is the "Average low Sp02 % < 88%" more, or less, important than the overall average?
5. My oximeter results show %Sp02 levels, and number of events, in bands of 5 i.e. 99-95, 94 - 90 and so on , with the number of events in each band. Should we be aiming not to go below 90 at all, or is the threshold level lower?
6. Is the time in each band significant, and if so what should we look for to show good OSA control?
7. Which overnight pulse levels are considered abnormal?
8. Can the oximeter results be converted into AHIs and if so how?
My apologies for setting out formal questions in this way, but I hope that Rock, and other members, will be able to give expert guidance on these points and others, to assist us all.
We would all benefit if we could understand :
a) the default settings to use
b) which readings indicate good OSA control
c) which readings are considered abnormal / undesirable
Views: 7366
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Joe barnes on
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This is last night.
Had alcohol and food late.
lot of events still but not as many real bad ones and feel o.k. today.As o.k as can be expected!
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I realize it is just opinions and you are not doctors but I would appreciate anyone's opinion on how well my a/pap is adjusted and coping and if there is any suggestions on improving I will try them.
thank you for all your help and support.
This was last night,
same night as the oximter report just posted. Joe
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IncrediMail_Screenshot_0002.jpg, 135 KB
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IncrediMail_Screenshot_0003.jpg, 146 KB
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taken same night as the oximeter report last night
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IncrediMail_Screenshot_0001.jpg, 107 KB
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IncrediMail_Screenshot_0002.jpg, 135 KB
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IncrediMail_Screenshot_0003.jpg, 146 KB
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add ons from last report as would not except any more on that page.
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Permalink Reply by Tigers Fan on
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Hi Joe
What is your problem exactly? Last night you had alcohol (we don't know how much) and food late and had a mediocre night. No surprises there, then.
It is very difficult to see what is happening from one night's stats - we have to look for trends. Commit two Cardinal Sins of CPAP and your stats are not even representative!
If you post averages over four nights - no alcohol and eat earlier - we might be able to see how you are doing. Keep it simple - we need to know Pmax, Pmin, P90%. AHI for each night and averaged. Use the APAP styats as a first guide and then oximeter as a fine tune guide.
Early wild guess - your Pmin is too low and/or you use too much Flex. I suggest you reduce to 1 for the four night test.
TF (not a doctor).
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Thanks for that T.F
I will do that and then what states should i show.
I put them all on as i do not know what is the important ones and what I can leave out|
Thanks joe
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Hi Joe
If you just post the four numbers I've indictated for four nights, and their averages, as a table, we'll have a good starting point. You get those numbers from your charts, saves posting the charts.
TF
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Thanks will do.
Joe
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Permalink Reply by RockRpsgt on
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A night of sleep after alcohol will be a poor reflection of a normal night's sleep.
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Yes I thought that so I will not be drinking while I do this test
Joe
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After 4days now changed min setting from 7 to 8 max from 14 to 15 and a flex from 3 to 1
I will note these and then post them all
when you say p min p max do you mean from where I have just altered or does it show somewhere with variations each night?
thanks joe
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Hi Joe
BAsed on your last post, you have just changed Pmin from 7 to 8. Pmin is fixed unless you change it - the machine does not do so automatically. You have changed Pmax from 14 to 15.
Now, it is generally considered best to change only one parameter at a time so that you can see the efffect, if any. Change three and who knows what is causing an effect. Were it my machine, I'd leave Flex and Pmax where they are at 1 and 15. I'd do four nights at Pmin 8 and post results. Probably, then I'd do four nights with Pmin 9 and compare - but I'd wait and see the results of Pmin at 8 first.
TF
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