Sleep-disordered breathing and myocardial ischemia in patients with coronary artery disease

T Mooe1, K A Franklin, U Wiklund

  • 1Department of Cardiology, University Hospital, Umeå, Sweden. thomas.mooe@medicin.umu.se

Chest
|June 20, 2000
PubMed

Insights

Nocturnal myocardial ischemia is common in angina patients. A link to sleep-disordered breathing occurs in a minority, particularly men with severe breathing issues.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Respiratory Medicine

Background:

  • Nocturnal myocardial ischemia is a concern in patients with angina pectoris.
  • Sleep-disordered breathing, including apneas and oxygen desaturations, may influence cardiac events.
  • Understanding this relationship is crucial for patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the occurrence of nocturnal myocardial ischemia.
  • To determine the association between sleep-disordered breathing (apneas and oxygen desaturations) and myocardial ischemia in patients with angina pectoris.

Main Methods:

  • An observational study was conducted.
  • Overnight sleep studies and Holter recordings were used to assess disordered breathing, heart rates, and ST-segment depressions.
  • 132 men and 94 women referred for coronary angiography were included.

Main Results:

  • ST-segment depressions occurred in 59% of patients, with 31% experiencing them nocturnally.
  • A temporal association between ST-segment depression and breathing events was observed in 19% of nocturnal events.
  • This association was more frequent in men and those with more severe sleep-disordered breathing.

Conclusions:

  • Nocturnal myocardial ischemia is prevalent in patients with angina.
  • A direct temporal link between sleep-disordered breathing and myocardial ischemia is found in a subset of patients.
  • The relationship is more pronounced in men and individuals with severe sleep-disordered breathing.
Abstract

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