Indications for positive airway pressure therapy in adults with obstructive sleep apnea

AHI: apnea-hypopnea index; HSAT: home sleep apnea testing; PAP: positive airway pressure; RDI: respiratory disturbance index; RERAs: respiratory effort-related arousals.

* The obstructive RDI is the number of obstructive apneas, obstructive hypopneas, and RERAs per hour of sleep; it is usually higher than the AHI (the number of apneas and hypopneas per hour of sleep). RDI and AHI can only be reliably identified on polysomnography testing. RDI and AHI are not feasible on HSAT. HSAT generally measures the respiratory event index (REI; ie, number of apneas and hypopneas per hour of recording). However, in those with excessive daytime sleepiness and an AHI ≤5 events per hour during HSAT, third-party payers may determine who gets further testing or therapy.