Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 1, 2026

Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy (DISE) with Target Controlled Infusion (TCI) and Bispectral Analysis in Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Published on: December 6, 2016
[Cardiac autonomic function and cardiac arrhythmias in patients with obstructive sleep apnea]
Hasan Arı1, Selma Arı, Fatma Yazıcı
1Department of Cardiology, Bursa Yüksek İhtisas Heart-Education and Research Hospital, Bursa, Turkey. hasanari03@yahoo.com
Objectives:
We assessed the effect of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) on cardiac autonomic function with the parameters of heart rate variability (HRV) and heart rate turbulence (HRT) and investigated the frequency of cardiac arrhythmias in patients with OSAS.
Study Design:
Seventy-six patients (27 women, 49 men; mean age 50.6±10.7 years; range 33 to 75 years) with an initial diagnosis of OSAS underwent polysomnography and simultaneous Holter monitoring. The diagnosis of OSAS was based on an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) of ≥5. The patients were evaluated with time-and frequency-based parameters of HRV, and turbulence onset (TO) and turbulence slope (TS) parameters of HRT. Cardiac arrhythmias were also assessed on Holter monitoring.
Results:
Fifty-three patients (69.7%) were diagnosed with OSAS, being mild in 25 (47.2%), moderate in 23 (43.4%), and severe in five (9.4%) patients based on the AHI. The patients were divided into two groups as those having an AHI of <5 (n=23) and ≥5 (n=53). There were no significant differences in HRV parameters between the two groups, but patients with OSAS exhibited a significantly higher TO (p=0.02) and a significantly lower TS (p<0.001). In bivariate correlation analysis, AHI showed a significant negative correlation with TS (r=-0.37, p=0.009) and a significant positive correlation with TO (r=0.36, p=0.01). The frequencies of short-sequence premature atrial and ventricular contractions were significantly higher in patients with OSAS (p<0.001).
Conclusion:
Our findings suggest that blunting of HRT is more prominent than changes in HRV parameters in patients with OSAS, accompanied by increased frequency of cardiac arrhythmias.
More Related Videos
04:53Acupoint Application Combined with Ear Plaster Therapy for Treating Sleep Disorders with Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Published on: October 18, 2024
05:34Auricular Acupuncture as a Traditional Chinese Medicine Therapy for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Combined with Sleep Disorders
Published on: August 18, 2023
Related Concept Videos
Sleep Apnea
The condition is more prevalent among...
Dysrhythmias IV: Characteristics of Bradyarrhythmias
Mechanism of Cardiac Arrhythmias
Heart Failure VI: Adjunct Therapies
Decreased pulse rate
There are specific risk factors that can elevate the likelihood of developing bradycardia. Advanced age is a significant factor, with bradycardia...
ECG Interpretation of Arrhythmias I: Sinus Arrhythmias
Types of Arrhythmias
Sinus Node Arrhythmias
Sinus Bradycardia: Originating from the sinoatrial (SA) node, sinus bradycardia involves slower impulses, resulting in a heart rate of less than 60 beats per minute (bpm). Causes include sleep, vagal stimulation, beta-blockers, hypothyroidism, and...