What does the number of sleep apnea events per hour indicate about severity?

The severity of sleep apnea is often measured by the number of apnea or hypopnea events per hour of sleep, known as the Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI).

Levels of Severity:

• Mild: 5 to 15 events per hour
• Moderate: 15 to 30 events per hour
• Severe: 30 or more events per hour

These numbers help doctors understand how serious the sleep apnea is and guide treatment decisions. However, it's important to note that the AHI is just one way to measure severity. Other factors, like how tired a person feels during the day and any other health problems they might have, are also important. Some researchers suggest looking at additional parameters to get a complete picture of the condition, as different people might be affected differently by similar AHI scores.