Abstract

SEABORN, Geoffrey EJ et al. Perfil autonómico de los pacientes derivados a una clínica de trastornos del sueño: impacto de la CPAP en el sistema nervioso autónomo. Rev.Urug.Cardiol. [online]. 2012, vol.27, n.2, pp.143-147. ISSN 1688-0420.

Summary  Introduction: severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been associated with autonomic dysfunction. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is standard treatment for OSA, although its impact on autonomic dysfunction was not fully investigated. Heart rate variability (HRV) is a non-invasive quantitative technique for assessment of autonomic activity. We aimed to determine if patients with severe OSA exhibit greater levels of autonomic dysfunction than patients with normal apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), and if CPAP improves heart rate variability (HRV) parameters while improving AHI. Methods: all patients underwent full polysomnography (PSG) at a Sleep Disorder Clinic. Severe OSA was defined as AHI ³ 30 (events per hour), and control was defined as AHI < 5. HRV was calculated pre and post-CPAP from a 10-minute electrocardiogram (ECG) recording in accordance with guidelines for standardization. Patients with severe OSA were treated with CPAP for a period of 4-6 weeks (titrated during PSG), and control patients underwent no intervention between their two ECG recordings. Results: a total of 20 patients with severe OSA and 10 controls were included (Table 1). In patients with severe OSA, AHI was reduced by CPAP from 38.0 ± 11.0 to 23.0 ± 11.0 (P<0.01). Aside from a significant difference in BMI between OSA patients and controls (35.3±4.7 vs. 26.6±4.6 kg/m², P<0.01), groups were comparable in age, hypertension, and gender. There was no significant difference (P<0.05) in any HRV parameters between patients with severe OSA and controls, and between OSA patients pre- and post-CPAP (table 2).   Conclusion: in a population referred to a Sleep Disorder Clinic, patients with severe OSA presented the same autonomic profile as patients with no OSA. Correction of OSA by CPAP was not associated with changes in autonomic activity.

Keywords : CONTINUOUS POSITIVE AIRWAY PRESSURE; SLEEP APNEA SYNDROMES; HEART RATEY.

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