Physiologic pacing in patients with obstructive sleep apnea: a prospective, randomized crossover trial.
OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to assess the impact of prevention of bradycardia with physiologic pacing on the severity of obstructive sleep apnea.


BACKGROUND
Apneic episodes during sleep are associated with slowing of the heart rate during apnea and tachycardia with subsequent arousal. Patients with permanent pacemakers may have reduced episodes of sleep apnea when their pacemaker rate is set faster than their spontaneous nocturnal heart rate.


METHODS
We conducted a prospective, randomized, single-blind crossover trial of temporary atrial pacing in obstructive sleep apnea to reduce the apnea hypopnea index (AHI). Fifteen patients (age 60 +/- 13 years, 12 men) with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea (AHI 34 +/- 14) underwent insertion of an externalized atrial permanent pacing system via the left subclavian vein. Patients underwent overnight respiratory sleep studies in hospital, during atrial pacing at 75 beats/min, and with pacing turned off. The order of pacing mode was randomized, with crossover the subsequent night to the other mode. Patients were blinded to pacing mode, and the analysis of sleep recordings was blind to pacing mode.


RESULTS
Pacing was tolerated without complications in all patients. Overnight physiologic pacing did not affect the AHI (pacing 39 +/- 21/h vs. control 42 +/- 21/h, p = 0.23, 95% confidence interval -9.3 to 2.5 for difference), desaturation time (pacing 3.8 +/- 6.0% vs. control 3.5 +/- 4.3%, p = 0.70), or the minimum SaO(2) (pacing 75 +/- 10% vs. control 77 +/- 11%, p = 0.38). There was a borderline significant reduction in circulatory time with pacing (pacing 23.4 +/- 3.2 s vs. control 25.5 +/- 4.4 s, p = 0.09).


CONCLUSIONS
Temporary atrial pacing does not appear to improve respiratory manifestations of obstructive sleep apnea. Permanent atrial pacing in this patient population does not appear to be justified.
Krahn
Andrew D
AD
Division of Cardiology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada. akrahn@uwo.ca
Yee
Raymond
R
Erickson
Mark K
MK
Markowitz
Toby
T
Gula
Lorne J
LJ
Klein
George J
GJ
Skanes
Allan C
AC
George
Charles F P
CF
Ferguson
Kathleen A
KA
D000368:Aged; D001919:Bradycardia / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D017211:Treatment Failure