Sleep study results

If anyone can shed some light on this I would appreciate it. I took a take home sleep study kit, next day got the results and I had 14.4 AHI. So being AD USAF, i HAD to do a overnight one. About a month after i did the test. I had a 3.1 AHI. Nothing changed, and my symptoms are still the same. I got an oral device and that hasn't helped either. So at first, I had sleep apena, then a month later i apparently "snore". I understand the take home isn't 100% accurate but man, by that much? Even when my symtpoms are the exact same? How is 14 vs 3 the same? Thanks to anyone who replies!

One of the differences between a home test and a lab test is that the home test does not know when you are sleeping. When they calculate AHI they divide the number of events by the time in bed. The time in bed is a larger number than actual sleeping time, so it can understate the AHI. However your results are the opposite, so that does not explain it. The lab test is considered to be the gold standard, so, one would have to give it more weight in being right.

Does your lab sleep study report a RHI number? That includes the number of RERA or respiratory effort related arousal events. They are not counted in an AHI but can contribute to sleep disruption. Unfortunately not all insurance companies will use to RHI to approve a CPAP, but some do. If your RHI is high, you might want to try that route to get a CPAP.