Sleep apnoea in heart failure

	Tweet

Studies from the USA have reported that sleep apnoea is common in congestive heart failure (CHF), with Cheyne–Stokes respiration (CSR) being the most frequent type of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in these patients. Within the present study, the authors sought to assess the prevalence and type of SDB among CHF patients in Germany.

A total of 203 CHF patients participated in this prospective multicentre study. All patients were stable in New York Heart Association classes II and III and had a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <40%. The patients were investigated by polygraphy and all data were centrally analysed. Patient enrolment was irrespective of sleep-related symptoms.

The majority of patients were male with a mean age of 65 yrs and hospitalised. Of the 203 patients, 145 (71%) had an apnoea/hypopnoea index >10·h–1, obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) occurred in 43% (n = 88) and CSR in 28% (n = 57) of patients.

The prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing is high in patients with stable severe congestive heart failure from a European population. As sleep-disordered breathing may have a negative impact on the prognosis of congestive heart failure, a sleep study should be performed in every patient with congestive heart failure and a left ventricular ejection fraction of <40%. This diagnostic approach should probably be adopted for all of these patients irrespective of the presence of sleep-related symptoms.

University of Giessen Lung Centre, Giessen, Charité University Hospital Berlin, Sleep Disorders Centre, Department of Cardiology/ Pulmonary Medicine, Depts of Cardiology and Pulmonary Medicine, Ruhr University Hospital-Bochum, Bochum, Sana Hospital, Schleswig-Holstein, and Pius Hospital, Niedersachsen, Oldenburg, Department of Internal Medicine II, Hospital Martha-Maria Halle-Dolau, Department of Internal Medicine III, Theresien Hospital, Mannheim, Department of Cardiology/Pulmonary Medicine, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, and Department of Cardiology/Pulmonary Medicine, University Hospital Gottingen, Gottingen, Germany.

CORRESPONDENCE: R. Schulz, University of Giessen Lung Center, Klinikstr. 36, 35392 Giessen, Germany. Fax: 49 6419947999. E-mail:

RELATED STORIES:
Scientists turn skin cells into beating heart muscle   Too many people get angioplasties, study suggests   New Blood Thinner May Lower Chances of Clots in High-Risk Heart Patients: FDA   Heart Damage After Chemo Linked to Stress in Cardiac Cells   What’s good or bad for the heart, may be the same for the brain   Warfarin in Heart Failure   Increased Sudden Cardiac Death Rate Among HIV Patients   Air pollution level changes in Beijing linked with biomarkers of cardiovascular disease   Lack of basic evidence hampering prevention of sudden heart attacks in sport   Blacks Less Likely to Get Help on Scene After Cardiac Arrest: Study   Heart attack patients taken to PCI hospitals first treated faster   Cameron Health’s under-skin ICD safe, effective

Comments

[ + Post Your Own ]

Now you're in the public comment zone. What follows is not Armenian Medical Network's stuff; it comes from other people and we don't vouch for it. A reminder: By using this Web site you agree to accept our Terms of Service. Click here to read the Rules of Engagement.

There are no comments for this entry yet. [ + Comment here + ]