Harman Patil (Editor)

Apnea–hypopnea index

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The Apnea–Hypopnea Index or Apnoea–Hypopnoea Index (AHI) is an index used to indicate the severity of sleep apnea. It is represented by the number of apnea and hypopnea events per hour of sleep. The apneas (pauses in breathing) must last for at least 10 seconds and be associated with a decrease in blood oxygenation. Combining AHI and oxygen desaturation gives an overall sleep apnea severity score that evaluates both the number of sleep disruptions and the degree of oxygen desaturation (low oxygen level in the blood).

The AHI is calculated by dividing the number of apnea events by the number of hours of sleep. The AHI values for adults are categorized as:

  • Normal: AHI<5
  • Mild sleep apnea: 5≤AHI<15
  • Moderate sleep apnea: 15≤AHI<30
  • Severe sleep apnea: AHI≥30

    • For children, because of their different physiology, an AHI in excess of 1 is considered abnormal.

    Risks associated with a high AHI

    Research shows that individuals suffering from obstructive sleep apnea are at a higher risk of other health comorbidities, including:

  • Acute myocardial infarction/heart attack: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) presents in 70% of heart attack patients if OSA considered as AHI ≥5 (or in 52% of heart attack patients when OSA considered as AHI ≥10).
  • Stroke: In patients with AHI ≥30 macroangiopathic etiology of stroke were significantly higher than in patients with AHI <10.

    • References

    Apnea–hypopnea index Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA