Patients must be evaluated for sleep apnea if their AHI is higher than which value?

The appropriate threshold for evaluating patients for sleep apnea, specifically obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), is an Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) greater than 15. The AHI is a measure used in sleep studies to quantify the severity of sleep apnea by counting the number of apneas (complete cessation of breathing) and hypopneas (partial cessation of breathing) that occur during sleep, expressed as an average per hour.

An AHI of 5 or greater indicates the presence of mild sleep apnea, but an AHI above 15 signifies moderate to severe sleep apnea, thereby necessitating further evaluation and management. Patients with an AHI higher than 15 are at increased risk for various complications, including cardiovascular issues and impaired daytime functioning, making it crucial to consider a formal diagnosis and treatment plan at this cutoff. Hence, the recommendation to evaluate patients at an AHI of greater than 15 is clinically significant for identifying those who may require intervention.