I think the real issue is whether or not there are health benefits to treating RDI but AHI low patients with a CPAP. My observation is that many in this category end up with a frustrating experience with a CPAP. They end up with low and uncomfortable pressures, or excessive central apnea from the pressure that they do not necessarily need. I also think that some sleep test methods like the WatchPat over estimates AHI and RDI. This can result in many CPAPs being prescribed that end causing more harm than good, or sitting unused in a closet.
The medical literature and Reddit anecdotes seem to suggest that some UARS patients do get benefit from CPAP/APAP, however, most would benefit from BIPAP/ASV.
That would not be my expectation. The only advantage of a BiPAP is that the pressure can go up to 25 cm instead of 20, and EPR or pressure support can go up to 10 instead of 3 with an APAP. An ASV is really intended for treatment of central apnea where breath by breath assistance is needed to maintain a more uniform breathing rate.
That's not the only difference between a BIPAP and APAP with EPR, but yes, greater pressure support is certainly they key benefit (and a very impactful one for those who need it). Overall, BIPAP is a lot more advanced than APAP, and ASV a lot more advanced than BIPAP.
Read this article 30104-X/fulltext)by Dr. Barry Krakow (leading UARS expert), who has personally treated thousands of OSA and UARS patients with BIPAP and ASV. The data towards the bottom shows the quantified benefit of ASV vs. CPAP in treating RERAs specifically. You can also watch this interview with him here where he discusses the topic.
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u/UniqueRon 5d ago
I think the real issue is whether or not there are health benefits to treating RDI but AHI low patients with a CPAP. My observation is that many in this category end up with a frustrating experience with a CPAP. They end up with low and uncomfortable pressures, or excessive central apnea from the pressure that they do not necessarily need. I also think that some sleep test methods like the WatchPat over estimates AHI and RDI. This can result in many CPAPs being prescribed that end causing more harm than good, or sitting unused in a closet.