AHI classification of obstructive sleep apnea

Winfried Randerath, MD, FCCP, Centre of Sleep Medicine and Respiratory Care, Solingen, Germany, discusses the relevance of the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) index, the most used biomarker of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), in classifying disease severity. The AHI index is included in many international guidelines and is also used to guide treatment. However, the use of this index is being discussed amongst sleep clinicians as research shows that the AHI does not reflect patient-related outcomes, comorbidities, and consequences of the disease. Therefore, there is a strong trend to switch AHI for more comprehensive diagnostic methods and criteria. This interview took place during the World Sleep Congress 2022 in Rome, Italy