Definition - What does Oxygen Desaturation Index mean?
Oxygen desaturation index (ODI) is the cumulative amount of respiratory events that occur per hour during biorhythms where blood oxygen levels that fall below the 3 or 4 percent clinical baseline represents a decrease in oxygen concentration in the blood. In sleep studies, an oximeter is a device that attaches to the fingertip and provides an ODI reading and helps to determine if a patient is a candidate for sleep apnea, hypopnea, or upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS). Oxygen desaturation occurs from partial or total blockage of the upper airway passage causing an irregular breathing rate, in turn, disrupting sleep patterns.
SureHire explains Oxygen Desaturation Index
Oxygen desaturation index levels can fluctuate based on biological variables or underlying epidemiological factors that contribute to breathing difficulties including maxillofacial abnormalities, age (over 40 years), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), congestive heart failure, genetics, and obesity. Sleep is a physiological function that is responsible for intracellular growth and repair, divided into two distinct sleep stage cycles including non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM). Debilitating sleep disorders can often induce repetitive breathing cessations, marking pronounced declines in blood oxygen levels and a consequent buildup of carbon dioxide to ensue. As a result, REM sleep, where the brain undergoes intense bioelectric activity, is affected.
Persistent oxygen desaturation index levels carry etiological consequences that can influence longevity of life including cardiovascular disease, hypertension, dementia, diabetes, and stroke. A sleep physician will conduct a polysomnogram (sleep study) to assess ODI levels to determine the proper treatment based on test findings. Many symptoms associated with apneas, hypopneas, and other respiratory events serve as a precursor for detrimental sleep disorders where the depletion of blood oxygen levels is a significant health and safety risk.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), for example, compromises oxygen uptake due to symptoms of gasping, snoring, shortness of breath, and sporadic arousals from sleep, escalating ODI measurements. Consequently, individuals with OSA are likely to experience daytime sleepiness, chronic fatigue, and cognitive impairments that undercut their job performance, especially, with safety-sensitive positions. Moreover, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), stipulates that all personnel with a diagnosis of OSA receive clearance from a certified physician to execute duties and tasks, especially, operating a commercial vehicle. Oxygen desaturation index is a benchmark in noting apneas, hypopneas, and secondary respiratory events (i.e., snoring) in which proper treatment is conducive to alleviating symptoms. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices are an effective therapeutic intervention to help regulate breathing patterns during sleep.
