Effects of the continuous positive airway pressure on the airways of patients with chronic heart failure.
BACKGROUND
Heart failure can present with asymptomatic dysfunction at decompensation, with limitations and decrease in the productive capacity. The Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) is a non-pharmacological means to decrease afterload.


OBJECTIVE
To analyze the effects of CPAP (10 cmH2O), for 30 days in patients with chronic heart failure.


METHODS
We assessed 10 patients with heart failure (6 males, 4 females) of several etiologies, with a mean age of 54 +/- 14 years, with a BMI of 21 +/- 0.04 kg/m(2). The therapy was applied for 60 min., 5 times a week for 30 days, during the daytime. The echocardiogram and the ergospirometry were analyzed, before and 30 days after the therapy.


RESULTS
There was a 19.59% increase in the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF): 23.9 +/- 8.91 vs 27.65 +/- 9.56%; p = 0.045. At the ergospirometry, the exercise time (ET) showed a significant increase from 547 +/- 151.319 vs 700 +/- 293.990 sec., p = 0.02; oxygen consumption (VO2) was 9.59 +/- 6.1 vs 4.51 +/- 2.67 ml x kg(-1) x min(-1), p = 0.01, whereas the carbon dioxide production (VCO2) at rest (9.85 +/- 4.38 vs 6.44 +/- 2.88 ml x kg(-1) x min(-1), p = 0.03) decreased.


CONCLUSIONS
The CPAP resulted in an increase in the LVEF and ET, decreased the oxygen consumption and the carbon dioxide production at rest.
Azevedo
João Carlos Moreno de
JC
Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
Carvalho
Edison Ramos Migowisk de
ER
Feijó
Luis Augusto
LA
Oliveira
Fátima Palha de
FP
Menezes
Sara Lúcia Silveira de
SL
Murad
Henrique
H
D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism; D002908:Chronic Disease; D045422:Continuous Positive Airway Pressure / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D002245:Carbon Dioxide