Normal nocturnal breathing rate by age group, with deviation thresholds that wearables use for illness detection.
| Age Group | Normal Range (breaths/min) | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 18–30 | 12–16 | 14 |
| 31–50 | 13–17 | 15 |
| 51–65 | 14–18 | 16 |
| 65+ | 15–19 | 17 |
Source: Boyle J et al. Nocturnal respiratory rate. Sleep Med Rev. 2018. Oura internal normative data.
| Deviation from personal baseline | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| ± 0.5 breath/min | Normal daily variation |
| +1 breath/min | Mild elevation — monitor trend |
| +2 breath/min | Significant — possible illness onset or high recovery load |
| +3+ breath/min | High elevation — illness likely |