Final answer:
Sleep apnea is diagnosed if there are more than 15 apnea episodes per hour or if more than 75% of the apneas and hypopneas are obstructive. The appropriate diagnosis criteria are options 1 and 4, giving the answer as 'a. 1, 4'.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sleep apnea would be diagnosed in a patient who has more than five apnea episodes per hour over an 8-hour period. Diagnosis typically occurs during a sleep study, where various vital signs and breathing patterns are monitored. The treatment for sleep apnea often includes the use of a CPAP machine to ensure the airway remains open during sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea, which is caused by a physical blockage of airflow, is just one type of sleep apnea; central sleep apnea involves a failure in the brain signals that control breathing. A key indicator for diagnosis is that more than 75% of the apneas or hypopneas are obstructive in nature. Thus, the correct answer would encompass both identifying obstructive events and the frequency of apnea episodes, which are options 1 and 4:
- More than 15 apnea episodes per hour of sleep
- More than 75% of the apneas and hypopneas are obstructive
Therefore, the correct answer to the question is "a. 1, 4".