A method of estimating upper airway resistance or lung compliance of a patient is provided that includes inducing a central apnea in the patient, providing a known pressure stimulus comprising a flow of breathing gas having a known pressure level to the patient while the patient is experiencing the central apnea, determining a patient flow-related parameter, such as flow rate and/or flow volume, associated with the known pressure stimulus, and estimating the upper airway resistance or the lung compliance of the patient using the patient flow-related parameter using, for example and without limitation, an input-output system identification method.
