Sleep apnoea in heart failure.
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.
Schulz
R
R
University of Giessen Lung Center, Klinikstr. 36, 35392 Giessen, , and Charité University Hospital Berlin, Sleep Disorders Centre, Department of Cardiology/Pulmonary Medicine, Germany. Richard.Schulz@innere.med.uni-giessen.de
Blau
A
A
Börgel
J
J
Duchna
H W
HW
Fietze
I
I
Koper
I
I
Prenzel
R
R
Schädlich
S
S
Schmitt
J
J
Tasci
S
S
Andreas
S
S
D000368:Aged; D002639:Cheyne-Stokes Respiration; D045422:Continuous Positive Airway Pressure; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy; D017286:Polysomnography / Q000379:methods; D011312:Pressure; D012119:Respiration; D012890:Sleep; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000150:complications*; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis