Impaired self-reported sleep quality improves with radiofrequency catheter ablation in patients with premature ventricular complexes

Abstract

Background: The frequency of premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) increases in patients with poor sleep quality (PSQ).

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate PSQ in patients referred for radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFA) due to PVCs and to determine the effect of RFA on PSQ.

Methods: A total of 207 patients who were diagnosed with the PVC burden greater than 10% and underwent 3-dimensional RFA in our center were included in this cross -sectional study. Self -reported sleep quality was assessed in all patients in addition to a 24-hour Holter electrocardiogram before ablation and at 3-month follow -up. The effect of RFA on self -reported sleep quality in patients with PVCs was evaluated.

Results: Before RFA, 87% of the study patients had PSQ. In those with PVCs, subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, sleep efficiency, sleep disturbances, daytime dysfunction, and the global Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) improved after RFA (P  < 0.001). Positive correlations were found between the PSQI and the total number of PVCs, PVC burden, PVC burden in the morning, PVC burden at midday, PVC burden in the evening, and PVC burden at nighttime (P < 0.01). In linear regression analysis, only the nighttime PVC burden was found to be related to the PSQI (P = 0.002, β = 0.397).

Conclusion: Poor sleep quality is common in patients with PVCs and it improves significantly after the RFA procedure. Poor sleep quality in patients with PVCs is closely related to the PVC burden at nighttime. Our study showed that, while evaluating PVCs, we also should suspect PSQ, especially due to PVCs.