Knowra Hypopnea Hypopnea Hypopnea is an episode of abnormally shallow or reduced airflow, often during sleep. It can lower blood oxygen or cause brief arousals and is one event measured in sleep-disordered breathing.
Obstructive sleep apnea : Repeated sleep-related reductions or cessations of airflow caused by upper-airway obstruction. Partial airway obstruction can produce hypopneas as well as complete breathing pauses.
Polysomnography : An overnight test that records sleep stages, breathing, oxygen levels, and other physiological signals. It captures the airflow, oxygen, and brain signals used to detect sleep hypopneas.
Hypopnea scoring criteria : Rules for classifying a sleep-related reduction in airflow as a hypopnea. Different thresholds for airflow reduction and consequences can change the event count.
Apnea : A temporary cessation of breathing or airflow, with the exact definition depending on context. Hypopnea reduces airflow; apnea denotes a more complete pause under sleep-scoring rules.
Central sleep apnea : Sleep-related pauses in breathing caused by reduced or absent respiratory effort from the brain’s control system. Unlike obstructive hypopnea, central events arise without airway blockage.
Apnea–hypopnea index : The number of apneas and hypopneas recorded per hour of sleep. It summarizes how frequently hypopneas occur alongside apneas.
Sleep study : A test that evaluates sleep and related physiological functions, often overnight. Sleep studies detect and quantify hypopneas to assess sleep-disordered breathing.
Respiratory disturbance index : A sleep-study measure that counts respiratory events, often including respiratory effort-related arousals, per hour. It can include events beyond the apneas and hypopneas counted in the apnea–hypopnea index.
Upper airway resistance syndrome : A sleep-related breathing disorder involving increased airway resistance, breathing effort, and sleep disruption. Flow limitation can disturb sleep even when it does not meet hypopnea scoring criteria.
Nasal pressure transducer : A sensor that estimates airflow from pressure changes at the nose. Its airflow signal can reveal the reduced breathing that defines many hypopneas.
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