AirwayLab vs myAir: Beyond Basic CPAP Metrics
myAir is ResMed's official companion app and a fine starting point for tracking basic CPAP compliance. But if you want to understand why you still feel tired despite a good myAir score, you need to look deeper than AHI. That is where AirwayLab comes in.
The Problem with AHI-Only Analysis
myAir shows you four things: AHI (apnea-hypopnea index), usage hours, mask fit events, and leak data. These metrics matter for basic compliance, but they miss the most common cause of residual tiredness on CPAP: flow limitation.
Flow limitation happens when your airway partially narrows during sleep, not enough to trigger an apnea or hypopnea (so AHI stays low), but enough to disrupt sleep quality through respiratory effort-related arousals (RERAs) and breathing pattern instability. Research suggests this affects a significant portion of CPAP users who are "treated" by AHI standards but still symptomatic.
Your myAir score can be 100 while flow limitation quietly fragments your sleep.
A "perfect" myAir score means your AHI is low, you used the machine long enough, and your mask fit was acceptable. It says nothing about whether your breathing pattern was actually normal or whether subtle flow limitation was disrupting your sleep architecture.
What myAir Does Well
myAir is not a bad app. It serves a specific purpose well:
- Automatic data sync from your ResMed machine via cellular connection -- no SD card needed for daily checks
- Simple daily score that is easy to understand for new CPAP users
- Coaching tips for improving mask fit and building CPAP habits
- Free with your device -- no additional cost or setup beyond downloading the app
- Compliance documentation -- some insurance providers accept myAir data for compliance verification
For someone newly starting CPAP therapy, myAir is a good introduction. The daily score gamification can help build consistent usage habits.
What AirwayLab Reveals
AirwayLab reads the raw flow waveform data from your SD card -- every breath, sampled 25 times per second. This is the detailed data that myAir never sees:
Flow Limitation Scoring
Four engines analyse every breath for signs of airway narrowing: Glasgow Index (9 breath shape components), WAT (flatness scoring), NED (peak-to-mid flow ratio), and Oximetry (if connected).
RERA Detection
AirwayLab identifies sequences of flow-limited breaths ending in arousals -- Respiratory Effort-Related Arousals (RERAs) that fragment sleep but never appear in your AHI or myAir score.
Glasgow Index
A composite score (0-8) that summarises the overall health of your breathing pattern across 9 clinical dimensions. Lower is better. myAir has no equivalent metric.
H1/H2 Split Analysis
AirwayLab compares the first half and second half of your night. Position changes and REM sleep often worsen flow limitation later -- a pattern completely invisible in myAir.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | myAir | AirwayLab |
|---|---|---|
| AHI tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Usage hours | Yes | Yes |
| Mask fit / leak data | Yes | Yes |
| Flow limitation scoring | No | 4 engines |
| RERA detection | No | Yes (NED) |
| Glasgow Index | No | Yes |
| Oximetry analysis | No | 17 metrics |
| AI-powered insights | No | Yes (opt-in) |
| H1/H2 night comparison | No | Yes |
| Automatic data sync | Yes (cellular) | No (SD card) |
| Data stays on device | No (ResMed servers) | Yes (default) |
| Open source | No | Yes (GPL-3.0) |
| Exportable reports | Limited | CSV, JSON, PDF |
| Cost | Free | Free core |
When to Use Each Tool
myAir is fine when you...
- Are new to CPAP and building usage habits
- Just need a daily compliance check
- Want automatic sync without touching the SD card
- Need compliance data for your insurance provider
- Feel well-rested and your AHI is controlled
AirwayLab is essential when you...
- Still feel tired despite a good myAir score
- Suspect flow limitation or UARS
- Are adjusting pressure settings or EPR
- Want to understand your breathing patterns in depth
- Need detailed reports for your sleep clinician
- Care about keeping your health data private
The Privacy Difference
myAir uploads your sleep data to ResMed's servers automatically via cellular connection. This data may be shared with healthcare providers and, depending on your region and settings, with insurance companies for compliance monitoring.
AirwayLab takes the opposite approach. All core analysis runs entirely in your browser. Your data does not leave your device unless you explicitly opt in to optional features like AI-powered insights (which sends only aggregate metrics, never raw waveform data). The code is open source and auditable.
For many CPAP users, the convenience of myAir's automatic sync outweighs the privacy trade-off. But if you prefer to control where your health data goes, AirwayLab gives you that control without sacrificing analysis depth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not necessarily. myAir is useful for daily compliance tracking (did I use the machine? How many hours? Any big leaks?). Think of myAir as your daily check-in and AirwayLab as your detailed analysis tool. myAir shows the basics; AirwayLab shows what is happening beneath the surface.
myAir scores are based primarily on AHI, usage hours, mask fit, and mask on/off events. A "good" myAir score means your machine-reported metrics look fine. But it does not measure flow limitation, RERAs, or breathing pattern instability -- the things that often cause residual tiredness despite a low AHI. AirwayLab analyses these hidden patterns.
AirwayLab does not import from myAir. Instead, both tools read from the same ResMed machine. myAir gets its data via cellular upload from the machine. AirwayLab reads the detailed flow waveform data from your SD card, which contains far more information than what myAir receives.
myAir receives a simplified summary: AHI, usage hours, mask fit, and leak data. The SD card contains the full flow waveform -- every breath, sampled 25 times per second. AirwayLab analyses these raw waveforms to compute flow limitation scores, detect RERAs, calculate the Glasgow Index, and identify breathing pattern abnormalities that the simplified summary hides.
ResMed states that myAir data may be shared with your healthcare provider and, in some regions, with insurance companies for compliance monitoring. AirwayLab processes everything in your browser by default -- your data does not leave your device unless you explicitly opt in. Check the myAir terms of service for your specific region.
Learn More
Beyond AHI: Why Your Sleep Apnea Score Might Be Misleading You -- the research case for looking beyond AHI.
Understanding Flow Limitation -- what flow limitation is and why it matters.
AirwayLab Methodology -- how each analysis engine works.
AirwayLab vs OSCAR -- comparison with the open-source desktop tool.
AirwayLab vs SleepHQ -- comparison with the cloud-based analysis platform.
See What myAir Does Not Show You
Upload your ResMed SD card and discover the flow limitation patterns hiding behind your myAir score. Four research-grade engines, composite metrics, RERA detection, and trend tracking. No installation, no account required, 100% private.
Medical Disclaimer
AirwayLab is not a medical device and is not FDA-cleared or CE-marked. It is provided for educational and informational purposes only. The analysis results should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult qualified healthcare providers regarding your sleep therapy and any changes to PAP settings.