What is the recommended minimum required length for an arousal?

The recommended minimum required length for an arousal is three seconds. Arousal is defined as a brief awakening from sleep characterized by an increase in heart rate, respiratory rate, or EEG changes. In polysomnography, the three-second duration is crucial because it allows for a clear distinction between a true arousal and momentary disturbances that may not significantly impact sleep quality.

Understanding this duration is essential for accurately scoring sleep studies, as it can influence diagnoses related to sleep disorders. If arousals were scored with a shorter duration, there could be a higher incidence of arousals recorded, leading to a potentially inaccurate interpretation of a patient's sleep architecture. Thus, adhering to the three-second criterion helps ensure that only clinically significant arousals are identified.