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Association between atrial fibrillation and central sleep apnea
Richard S T Leung1, Matthias A Huber, Thomas Rogge
1Sleep Research Laboratory of the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, Ontario, Canada.
Sleep
|January 18, 2006
Summary
Patients with central sleep apnea have a significantly higher prevalence of atrial fibrillation, even without heart failure. This increased risk is independent of hypertension or low oxygen levels.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pulmonology
- Sleep Medicine
Background:
- Previous research linked atrial fibrillation (AF) and central sleep apnea (CSA) in heart failure patients.
- This study investigated AF prevalence in CSA without cardiac disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if AF prevalence is elevated in patients with idiopathic central sleep apnea (CSA) independent of other cardiac conditions.
- To compare AF rates in CSA versus obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and control groups.
Main Methods:
- Compared 60 CSA patients with 60 OSA and 60 non-sleep apnea patients.
- Matched groups for age, sex, and BMI; excluded patients with heart failure, coronary artery disease, or stroke.
- Defined sleep apnea based on apnea-hypopnea index and event type (central vs. obstructive).
Main Results:
- Atrial fibrillation prevalence was significantly higher in idiopathic CSA (27%) compared to OSA (1.7%) and no sleep apnea (3.3%) groups (P < .001).
- Hypertension and extreme oxygen desaturation were more common in the obstructive sleep apnea group.
- These findings suggest CSA is independently associated with increased AF risk.
Conclusions:
- Idiopathic central sleep apnea is associated with a markedly increased prevalence of atrial fibrillation, even without congestive heart failure.
- The elevated AF risk in CSA is not explained by hypertension or nocturnal oxygen desaturation, which were more prevalent in OSA.
- This highlights a specific link between CSA and AF that warrants further investigation and clinical consideration.
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