hˌaɪpoʊpnˈiː ɪz dᵻfˈaɪnd baɪ sˌʌm təbi lˈɛs sᵻvˈɪɹ ðɐn ɐpnˈiə ðə kəmplˈiːt sɛsˈeɪʃən ʌv bɹˈiːðɪŋ, wˌaɪl ˈʌðɚ ɹᵻsˈɜːtʃɚz hæv dɪskˈʌvɚd hˌaɪpoʊpnˈiː tə hæv ˈeɪ "sˈɪmɪlɚɹ ɪf nˌɑːt ˌɪndɪstˈɪŋɡwɪʃəbəl ˈɪmpækt" ɔnðə nˈɛɡətˌɪv ˈaʊtkʌmz ʌv slˈiːp bɹˈiːðɪŋ dɪsˈoːɹdɚz.
Hypopnea is defined by some to be less severe than apnea (the complete cessation of breathing), while other researchers have discovered hypopnea to have a "similar if not indistinguishable impact" on the negative outcomes of sleep breathing disorders.