title: Impact of pulmonary vein isolation on obstructive sleep apnea in patients with atrial fibrillation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been identified as associated with the onset and propagation of atrial fibrillation (AF) and predicts recurrences of AF after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). Vice versa, it has never been investigated whether PVI influences OSA. However, it has been controversial whether a restored atrial function can affect the course of OSA. There-fore, we have assessed whether PVI procedure modulates the prevalence and severity of OSA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We included 23 individuals with AF that were assigned to undergo PVI into this study. Patients were 65 ± 7 years old, obese (BMI 29.9 ± 5.4 kg/m²), white (100%) and had a normal left ventricular function (LVEF 64 ± 9%). Polygraphic assessment was carried out before and 6 months after PVI. The prevalence of OSA, defined as an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) ≥ 5 per hour of sleep, was 74% before PVI compared to 70% 6 months after the procedure (p > 0.05). Severity of OSA did not differ (AHI before vs. after: 18 ± 18/h vs. 15 ± 17/h, p > 0.05) as well as further polygraphic parameters did not differ before and after the procedure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prevalence and severity of OSA are not affected by PVI in patients suffering from AF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine II, Cardiology, Pneumology, University of Bonn, Germany. Felix.Hoyer@ukb.uni-bonn.de.
authors.forename: Friedrich Felix
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Hoyer
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Henrich
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kreuz
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pizarro
authors.forename: Jan-Wilko
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Schrickel
authors.forename: Lars Martin
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Lickfett
authors.forename: Erica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mittmann-Braun
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Juergens
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nickenig
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Skowasch
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015995:Prevalence; D011667:Pulmonary Veins / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome