What is the ideal AHI for someone using a CPAP machine?

Your AHI, according to the literature, but also according to the insurance industry that underwrites the machines and their replacements for those being reimbursed or provided, should be less than 5.0 events per hour. IOW, 4.9 or less is deemed to be 'treated.' Those of us who hang around fora and help people to dial in their prescribed flow/volume, or to make them more comfortable with their devices, feel that 4.9 can almost always be halved.

You might benefit from dropping into apneaboard.com and reading....a lot. Hours. And, at the top black marquee, to the right, you'll find a link to OSCAR. That is a free, safe, in-house software that will read your machine's SD card once a week or month, daily if you're that keen, and will show you a complete and comprehensive breakdown of all types of 'events' per hour over each night, and give you your leak, flow limits, peak pressure, and other data.

I don't know where you were advised that 14 events per hour comes remotely close to 'treated', or satisfactory. As I stated earlier, you want to be less than 5, and most of us manage to find ourselves at 3.9 or less. My monthly average for the past six years is around 0.6 events/hr.

It's worth a look!

I whol;eheartedly second this recommendation. My sleep med people got mine down to over 10 and suggested that's the best they can do. Ha!

Per gloaming's and others' advice, I've been using OSCAR to figure the adjustments better and have since worked it to consistently under 5. My target was 3 or less.

One of the suggestions was to let the machine auto adjust within a range and gradually increase the pressure range up until a) you can see the apnea score go down and b) you can see that the observed pressure no longer bumps up against the maximum pressure.

I have a follow-up with sleep med this week and let's say that will be a interesting conversation!

Amazing! RJ, I am very pleased that you have taken on this sometimes daunting, and overwhelming task (in reference to all the knowledge you have to absorb in order to get your head around how the machines work...for you, and not against you). I have done so well that I have become (gulp!) complacent and don't download my SD's data very often any more, maybe once every two months. My results have been enviable, with an average weekly AI near 0.6 for years now, so I have just shrugged and moved on. I have to remind myself to open my phone's My Air app and see what the last session's stats are. I can remember that about once a week.

Congratulations!

Morning, I always check the number of events each morning . Last night 🌙 it was 28.9. I am up and down like a yoyo. Then I find out I should be 5 or under! I cannot figure it out. Good luck

@msflygirlnortherncan, It can be difficult to find the right CPAP mask that works best for you. I started with a full face mask covering the nose and mouth and was able to keep my AHI under 4 after using it for a year. Since then I tried to find a better full face mask that fits under my nose and covers the mouth so the bridge of my nose doesn't hurt which has been a problem since day one of using a CPAP for me. Each time I try a new under the nose full face mask my AHI jumps up to between 5 and 9 or higher. I switched to a F&P Simplus mask with a support on the forehead and it has helped save my nose and allows me to keep my AHI under 4 and normally between 1 and 2. Are you able to discuss your events and get some suggestions from your sleep medicine doctor or a local medical store that sells CPAPs?

My AHI has been over 5 - 4 times in the last 12 mights - 11, 9, 6 , and 7. I sent a message to the NP I see. She had recently adjusted my pressure because i was having an even higher number of events over 5. She responded that she was satisfied with those numbers. Is having results over 5 one third of the nights adequate to alleviate the bad effects of sleep apnea?