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Chemoreflexsensitivity in chronic heart failure patients
M G Hennersdorf1, S Hillebrand, C Perings
1Department of Cardiology, Pneumology and Angiology, Medical clinic and policlinic B, Heinrich-Heine-University, Moorenstr. 5, D-40225, Duesseldorf, Germany. hennersdorf@med.uni-duesseldorf.de
European Journal of Heart Failure
|December 12, 2001
Summary
Patients with heart failure exhibit reduced hyperoxic chemoreflex sensitivity, linked to a higher incidence of ventricular arrhythmias. This finding may aid in risk stratification for heart failure patients.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Autonomic Nervous System Function
Background:
- Heart failure is associated with an imbalanced sympathovagal activity, affecting heart rate variability and baroreflex sensitivity.
- Ventilatory control is also impaired in heart failure patients, with increased ventilation upon hypoxic gas inhalation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether heart failure patients have diminished hyperoxic chemoreflex sensitivity.
- To determine if decreased chemoreflex sensitivity correlates with an increased rate of ventricular arrhythmias in heart failure.
Main Methods:
- Assessed hyperoxic chemoreflex sensitivity by measuring heart rate reduction after pure oxygen inhalation.
- Calculated chemoreflex sensitivity using the change in RR-interval relative to the change in venous oxygen partial pressure.
- Enrolled 49 participants: 23 with heart failure and 26 controls with normal left ventricular ejection fraction.
Main Results:
- Heart failure patients demonstrated significantly lower chemoreflex sensitivity (2.62+/-1.85 ms/mmHg) compared to controls (5.80+/-6.37 ms/mmHg).
- Nearly 70% of heart failure patients had reduced chemoreflex sensitivity (<3 ms/mmHg), versus 38.5% in the control group.
- A significant association was found between decreased chemoreflex sensitivity and a higher prevalence of non-sustained ventricular tachycardias (46% vs. 4%).
Conclusions:
- Heart failure patients exhibit significantly reduced hyperoxic chemoreflex sensitivity.
- Diminished chemoreflex sensitivity is linked to an increased occurrence of non-sustained ventricular tachycardias.
- Chemoreflex sensitivity may serve as a valuable marker for arrhythmic risk stratification in heart failure management.
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