hypopnées

Hypopneas are a key indicator in the diagnosis of sleep apnea. A hypopnea is defined as a temporary reduction in breathing during sleep that is at least 10 seconds long and is accompanied by a significant drop in blood oxygen saturation or a brief arousal from sleep. Specifically, a hypopnea is characterized by a decrease in airflow by at least 30% compared to baseline, lasting for 10 seconds or longer, and associated with either a fall in oxygen saturation of 3% or more, or a terminating arousal from sleep. These events are less severe than apneas, which involve a complete cessation of airflow. However, frequent hypopneas can still disrupt sleep architecture, leading to daytime sleepiness, fatigue, and other health problems. The number of hypopneas occurring per hour of sleep is quantified by the Respiratory Disturbance Index (RDI) or Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI), which are crucial metrics used by sleep specialists to assess the severity of sleep-disordered breathing. Understanding hypopneas is essential for identifying and managing sleep apnea effectively.