Which AHI value category defines severe sleep apnea?

Which AHI value category defines severe sleep apnea?

• A. <5 events/hour.
• B. ≥30 events/hour.
• C. 15-29 events/hour.
• D. 5-14 events/hour.

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that sleep apnea severity is judged by how often breathing stops or becomes very shallow each hour of sleep, measured by the apnea–hypopnea index. Severe sleep apnea describes the highest category of this frequency—very frequent interruptions per hour that lead to significant sleep disruption and potential oxygen desaturation. This level is distinct from milder ranges, which reflect progressively fewer interruptions per hour. In practice, recognizing that the most frequent category corresponds to severe helps explain why it signals the greatest risk and often the strongest need for treatment.

The key idea is that sleep apnea severity is judged by how often breathing stops or becomes very shallow each hour of sleep, measured by the apnea–hypopnea index. Severe sleep apnea describes the highest category of this frequency—very frequent interruptions per hour that lead to significant sleep disruption and potential oxygen desaturation. This level is distinct from milder ranges, which reflect progressively fewer interruptions per hour. In practice, recognizing that the most frequent category corresponds to severe helps explain why it signals the greatest risk and often the strongest need for treatment.