Häufigkeit zentraler schlafbezogener Atmungsstörungen mit Differenzierung nach der Cheyne-Stokes-Atmung bei Patienten mit einer Herzinsuffizienz und eingeschränkter systolischer linksventrikulärer Pumpfunktion (Ejektionsfraktion ≤ 50 %)

The prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing in patients with chronic heart failure seems to be remarkably high. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing especially of Cheyne-Stokes respiration in chronic heart failure and with impaired systolic left ventricular function (ejection fraction ≤ 50 %). A total of 224 consecutive patients (58 females; 166 males; mean age 59,2 ± 14,3 years) with chronic heart failure and impaired systolic left ventricular function (ejection fraction ≤ 50 %) were screened by cardiorespiratory polysomnography for the presence and type of sleep-disordered breathing. Sleep apnea was classified as obstructive or central according to the majority of events. The sleep-disordered breathing was defined according to the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) as follows: no sleep-disordered breathing (< 5/h), mild (≥ 5/h), moderate (> 15/h) and severe (≥ 30/h). In our cohort the prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing was 71 % (43 % ZSA, 28 % OSA). Approximately 24 % of the patients have a Cheyne-Stokes respiration, however, there was no significant difference betweeen mild, moderate and severe central sleep apnea. Taken together our results suggest a high prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing in patients with chronic heart failure. Because of their high prognostic implications, risk stratification and identification of patients eligible for special sleep-disordered breathing treatment, screening for such disorders should be part of every heart failure work-up.