[Evaluation of sleep apnea, detected by 24-hour ECG Holter monitoring analysis in patients with stable coronary artery disease and ischemic heart failure - correlations with clinical data].

UNLABELLED: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is frequently undiagnosed in patients with heart failure (HF) and coronary artery disease (CAD). Simple and widely available screening tests are needed to diagnose patients with SA. Measurements of thoracic impedance and heart rate variability during 24-hour ECG Holter (H-EKG) monitoring allows to calculate estimated apnoea-hypopnoea index (eAHI).

AIM: The aim of the research was to assess prevalence of OSA evaluated with the use of H-EKG and determination of its clinical relevance in patients with CAD and ischeamic HF.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

The study groups comprised of: 30 consecutive patients with ischeamic HF with reduced LVEF (HFrEF) (group A) and 30 patients with CAD (group B). Control group (C) comprised of 30 patients with arterial hypertension but no CAD nor HF. H-ECG monitoring was performed and eAHI was calculated. On the basis of AHI result group A was subdivided to subgroups A1 (eAHI <15) and A2 (eAHI ≥15).

RESULTS

Study groups differed with eAHI values (27,9±19,9 vs. 21,8±17,3 vs. 15,7±12,2; p=0,022). Post hoc analysis revealed that eAHI in group A was higher in comparison to group C (27,9±19,9 vs. 15,7±12,2; p=0,006). SA prevalence was higher in group A compared to group C (70,0% vs. 40,0%; p=0,019). Significant but weak correlation between eAHI and LVEDD was found (r=0,282; p<0,05). Subgroups A1 and A2 did not differ in terms of clinical and demographical parameters, HF symptoms, LVEF and NT-proBNP levels.

CONCLUSIONS

OSA coexists more frequently with HF than with arterial hypertension Significant but weak correlation between eAHI and LVEDD was demonstrated. However, in patients with symptomatic ischeamic heart failure eAHI ≥15 was not related to NYHA class, lower LVEF and higher NT-proBNP levels.