Congestive heart failure and central sleep apnea

Scott A Sands1, Robert L Owens2

  • 1Division of Sleep Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 221 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Allergy, Immunology and Respiratory Medicine and Central Clinical School, Alfred Hospital and Monash University, 55 Commercial Rd, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia.

Critical Care Clinics
|June 30, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Cheyne-Stokes respiration (CSR) is common in congestive heart failure (CHF) patients in intensive care units (ICUs). Further research is needed to understand CSR

Area of Science:

  • Critical Care Medicine
  • Pulmonary Medicine
  • Cardiology

Background:

  • Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a leading cause of hospitalization for older adults in the U.S.
  • Cheyne-Stokes respiration (CSR) is a common breathing pattern in CHF patients.
  • Data on CSR prevalence in intensive care units (ICUs) for CHF patients are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence of CSR in ICU patients with CHF.
  • To explore the impact of CSR on clinical management and mechanical ventilation weaning in CHF patients.

Main Methods:

  • Observational study design.
  • Patient data collection from intensive care units.
  • Analysis of breathing patterns, including CSR, in CHF patients.

Main Results:

  • CSR is expected to be highly prevalent in ICU patients with CHF.
  • Limited data currently exist on CSR prevalence and its effects in this population.
  • Underlying mechanisms linking CHF to unstable breathing (increased loop gain) require focus.

Conclusions:

  • CSR is likely common in ICU patients with CHF.
  • More research is needed to determine CSR prevalence and its clinical implications in the ICU.
  • Treatment strategies should address the mechanisms driving unstable breathing in CHF.

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