American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Certification Practice Exam

In obstructive sleep apnea, what AHI level indicates mild OSA?

1. Less than 5

2. 5 to 15

3. 15 to 30

4. More than 30

The correct answer is: 5 to 15

In the context of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) is a critical measure used to classify the severity of the condition based on the number of apneas (complete cessation of breathing) and hypopneas (partial cessation of breathing) that occur per hour of sleep. An AHI level of 5 to 15 specifically indicates mild OSA, which aligns with clinical criteria established in sleep medicine. The classification system categorizes OSA severity as follows: - An AHI of fewer than 5 events per hour is considered normal and indicates no significant sleep apnea. - An AHI ranging from 5 to 15 events per hour defines mild OSA. This level indicates that while there are breathing interruptions, they do not occur frequently enough to be classified as moderate or severe. - An AHI between 15 to 30 is classified as moderate OSA, reflecting a higher frequency of breathing interruptions and often correlating with more significant daytime symptoms and health risks. - An AHI of more than 30 signifies severe OSA, which can have profound health consequences and usually necessitates more aggressive treatment approaches. Thus, understanding this framework is essential for identifying the severity of OSA and implementing