Definition - What does Respiratory Disturbance Index mean?
Respiratory disturbance index (RDI) is a medical criterion used to assess the cumulative number of apneas, hypopneas, and respiratory event related arousals (RERA) that occur per hour in identifying breathing pattern anomalies causing sleep disruptions at night. Sleep specialists are utilizing RDI as an auxiliary method with apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) in which medical evidence supports RERA-related cases as legitimate sleep disturbances. Although RERA episodes causes minimal oxygen desaturation, persistent breathing difficulties due to snoring, allergies, or asthma can lead to daytime sleepiness, chronic fatigue, and cognitive impairment.
SureHire explains Respiratory Disturbance Index
As common with apneas and hypopneas, respiratory event related arousals are characterized by a surge of alpha wave activity that induces frequent spells of wakefulness interfering with biorhythms. In diagnosing sleep disorders, many doctors follow the same criteria used in AHI measurements to address RERA symptoms since more insurance companies recognize its application for coverage purposes. In sleep studies, an electroencephalogram (EEG) monitors and charts brainwave activity highlighting the presence and extent of apneas, hypopneas, and RERA scenarios that dictate the proper treatment modalities.
In many instances, an individual undergoing a polysomnogram (sleep study) can display low AHI measurements while their corresponding RDI readings are high, reflecting frequent sleep arousals at night. The dual approach of using AHI and RDI indices covers the gamut of drawing a relationship between irregular breathing patterns and concomitant apneas, hypopneas, and RERA occurrences that interrupt circadian rhythms. A sleep study can benefit people by introducing therapeutic solutions that regulate air intake including continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices or some other alternative to mitigate or prevent the detrimental health effects associated with apneas, hypopneas, and RERA events.
Sleep disorders can influence emotional and physical health. In particular, sleep apnea carries significant epidemiological risks, including cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, coupled with increasing the incidence rate for accidents. An individual with an RDI grade exceeding 15 episodes per hour qualifies as a breathing abnormality that warrants remedial care to normalize respiration during sleep. Apneas, hypopneas, and RERA conditions can undermine job performance where cognitive functionality and motor coordination skills are essential assets in the workplace.
