Vol 21, No 4 (2014)
Original articles
Published online: 2014-08-29

open access

Page views 2644
Article views/downloads 2260
Get Citation

Connect on Social Media

Connect on Social Media

Impact of pulmonary vein isolation on obstructive sleep apnea in patients with atrial fibrillation

Friedrich Felix Hoyer, Katharina Henrich, Jens Kreuz, Carmen Pizarro, Jan-Wilko Schrickel, Lars Martin Lickfett, Erica Mittmann-Braun, Uwe Juergens, Georg Nickenig, Dirk Skowasch
DOI: 10.5603/CJ.a2013.0122
Cardiol J 2014;21(4):392-396.

Abstract

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been identified as associated with the onset and propagation of atrial fibrillation (AF) and predicts recurrences of AF after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). Vice versa, it has never been investigated whether PVI influences OSA. However, it has been controversial whether a restored atrial function can affect the course of OSA. There­fore, we have assessed whether PVI procedure modulates the prevalence and severity of OSA.

Methods and Results: We included 23 individuals with AF that were assigned to undergo PVI into this study. Patients were 65 ± 7 years old, obese (BMI 29.9 ± 5.4 kg/m2), white (100%) and had a normal left ventricular function (LVEF 64 ± 9%). Polygraphic assessment was carried out before and 6 months after PVI. The prevalence of OSA, defined as an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) ≥ 5 per hour of sleep, was 74% before PVI compared to 70% 6 months after the procedure (p > 0.05). Severity of OSA did not differ (AHI before vs. after: 18 ± 18/h vs. 15 ± 17/h, p > 0.05) as well as further polygraphic parameters did not differ before and after the procedure.

Conclusions: Prevalence and severity of OSA are not affected by PVI in patients suffering from AF.