Sleep-disordered breathing and heart failure a dangerous liaison.

In industrialized countries, heart failure has developed into a leading cause of death and hospitalization. It represents one of the most relevant drivers of health-related costs and is among the prime medical and societal challenges of future decades. Sleep-disordered breathing impacts adversely on quality of life and may further aggravate the heart failure syndrome, thus augmenting the high mortality risk associated with this disorder. This article reviews important pathophysiological interactions between both obstructive and central sleep apnea and coexistent heart failure and describes the available treatment options. Based on current evidence, an algorithm for the diagnosis and treatment of sleep-disordered breathing in heart failure is proposed, and future research perspectives are outlined.