What respiratory event is defined by at least 10 seconds of no airflow with continuing respiratory effort?

What respiratory event is defined by at least 10 seconds of no airflow with continuing respiratory effort?

• A. RERA
• B. Apnea
• C. Hypopnea
• D. Central apnea

Answer: (B)

Apnea refers to a stretch of time with no airflow lasting at least ten seconds. The key here is that breathing effort is still present during the pause, meaning the chest and abdomen are still trying to move air. That ongoing effort distinguishes apnea from central apnea, where there is no respiratory effort at all. Hypopnea is a partial reduction in airflow with either a desaturation or an arousal, not a complete stop. RERA involves increasing respiratory effort with an arousal but does not reach a true pause in airflow. So, a ten-second or longer pause in airflow with continued respiratory effort is the defining feature of apnea (classically obstructive apnea when effort persists despite no airflow).

Apnea refers to a stretch of time with no airflow lasting at least ten seconds. The key here is that breathing effort is still present during the pause, meaning the chest and abdomen are still trying to move air. That ongoing effort distinguishes apnea from central apnea, where there is no respiratory effort at all. Hypopnea is a partial reduction in airflow with either a desaturation or an arousal, not a complete stop. RERA involves increasing respiratory effort with an arousal but does not reach a true pause in airflow. So, a ten-second or longer pause in airflow with continued respiratory effort is the defining feature of apnea (classically obstructive apnea when effort persists despite no airflow).