RPSGT Data Analysis & Reporting 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which AASM-defined arousal criterion requires a minimum duration of EEG frequency shift?
- 1 second
- 3 seconds (Correct answer)
- 5 seconds
- 10 seconds
Correct answer: 3 seconds
AASM rules require an EEG frequency shift lasting at least 3 seconds to qualify as an arousal.
Question 2: During NREM sleep, a respiratory event with ≥30% reduction in airflow lasting ≥10 seconds associated with 3% oxygen desaturation should be scored as:
- Obstructive apnea
- Hypopnea (Correct answer)
- Respiratory effort-related arousal (RERA)
- Central apnea
Correct answer: Hypopnea
A ≥30% airflow reduction ≥10 seconds with ≥3% desaturation meets AASM criteria for a hypopnea.
Question 3: What is the recommended low-frequency filter setting for scoring EEG in polysomnography?
- 0.1 Hz
- 0.3 Hz (Correct answer)
- 1.0 Hz
- 5.0 Hz
Correct answer: 0.3 Hz
AASM recommends a 0.3 Hz low-frequency filter for EEG channels to preserve slow-wave activity.
Question 4: A patient's PSG shows an AHI of 18 events/hour with most events in REM sleep. What severity category does this represent?
- Mild OSA
- Moderate OSA (Correct answer)
- Severe OSA
- Normal
Correct answer: Moderate OSA
An AHI of 15–30 events/hour is classified as moderate obstructive sleep apnea regardless of sleep stage distribution.
Question 5: When scoring a split-night PSG, titration data should begin after how many hours of diagnostic recording according to AASM guidelines?
- 1 hour
- 2 hours (Correct answer)
- 3 hours
- 4 hours
Correct answer: 2 hours
AASM guidelines recommend at least 2 hours of diagnostic recording before initiating CPAP titration on a split-night study.
Question 6: Leg movements during sleep are considered periodic (PLMs) when they occur in groups of at least how many consecutive movements?
- 2
- 3
- 4 (Correct answer)
- 5
Correct answer: 4
AASM criteria require a minimum of 4 consecutive qualifying leg movements to score a PLM series.
Question 7: What EEG characteristic distinguishes Stage N3 sleep from Stage N2 sleep?
- Presence of sleep spindles
- Presence of K-complexes
- High-amplitude slow waves occupying ≥20% of epoch (Correct answer)
- Alpha intrusions
Correct answer: High-amplitude slow waves occupying ≥20% of epoch
N3 is defined by slow-wave activity (≥75 µV, 0.5–2 Hz) occupying ≥20% of the scoring epoch.
RPSGT Data Analysis & Reporting 2
Which AASM-defined arousal criterion requires a minimum duration of EEG frequency shift?