What does your AHI mean?

An AHI of 15–29 events per hour places you in the moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) range per AASM scoring criteria. This means you experience between 15 and 29 apneas or hypopneas per hour of sleep on average. That's clinically significant disruption, and warrants treatment in most cases.

Per the AASM 2019 update, both CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) and oral appliance therapy (OAT) are considered first-line treatment options at this severity for adult OSA, meaning your physician should discuss both with you, and your preference plays a meaningful role in the decision. CPAP is generally more effective at reducing AHI; OAT tends to have higher long-term adherence rates because it's smaller, quieter, and easier to travel with.

Other factors that influence treatment selection include the type of events (obstructive, central, or mixed), nocturnal oxygen levels, body position dependence, and what other conditions you have. If your sleep test was a home study (HST) rather than an in-lab study, your physician may recommend in-lab polysomnography to characterize the apnea more thoroughly before treatment.

Moderate OSA does carry cardiovascular and cognitive risks if left untreated. Talk to your physician about your specific test findings and treatment options.

At moderate OSA severity, the AASM 2019 update lists both CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) and oral appliance therapy (OAT) as first-line treatment options for adults, meaning your physician should discuss both with you, and your preference plays a meaningful role in the decision.

CPAP is generally more effective at reducing AHI; OAT tends to have higher long-term adherence because it's smaller, quieter, and easier to travel with. Positional therapy may be added if your apneas are concentrated in the supine position. If your test was a home sleep test, your physician may recommend an in-lab polysomnography to characterize the apnea more thoroughly before settling on treatment.