Could I Have UARS Despite an AHI of Only 1.1? – High PLMI, Poor Sleep Quality and No RERA/RDI Data
Could this still be UARS despite a very low AHI?
Hi everyone! I'm trying to figure out whether UARS could explain my symptoms.
I had a full polysomnography. My AHI was only 1.1/h, so I was told I don't have obstructive sleep apnea. However, I still have significant fatigue and unrefreshing sleep.
Some of my PSG results:
AHI: 1.1/h
Sleep efficiency: ~68%
Total sleep time: ~5.5 hours
N1 sleep: 24.4%
REM: 27.3%
Mean SpO₂: 96%
Lowest SpO₂: ~89-91%
Snoring: 363 episodes / ~30 minutes
PLMI: 46.4/h (255 limb movements)
Only 6 scored arousals in the entire study
The main problem is that my report doesn't include RERA, RDI or flow-limitation data, so I don't know whether UARS was actually assessed.
I also have a chronically mildly blocked nose and persistent Eustachian tube dysfunction/swelling. I've tried oral corticosteroids, intranasal steroids, antihistamines and mucolytic medications, but unfortunately none of them significantly improved my symptoms.
I've also tried psychiatric medications for my fatigue. Some of them improved my energy somewhat, but there was no major improvement in my overall condition, so I'm still trying to find an underlying cause.
The other interesting finding is the PLMI of 46.4/h. I'm planning to investigate this as well, including iron/ferritin and other possible causes.
So I'm wondering:
Does this PSG give any reason to investigate UARS despite an AHI of 1.1?
Could the low sleep efficiency, high N1 percentage and snoring fit with UARS?
Is it possible that RERAs/flow limitation simply weren't scored, meaning UARS could have been missed?
Would it be worth asking the sleep lab to re-analyze the raw PSG for RERAs, RDI and flow limitation?
Could a PLMI of 46.4/h alone explain significant unrefreshing sleep?
Has anyone here had UARS with AHI <5 that was initially missed?
I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone with a similar PSG or experience with UARS + PLMS.