Patients with chronic heart failure have a high prevalence of moderate-to-severe sleep-disordered breathing, according to Healio.
Researchers evaluated 6,876 patients from the German SchlaHF registry to investigate the prevalence and predictors of sleep-disordered breathing in patients with HF. All patients had stable, symptomatic, chronic HF, with NYHA functional class of II or higher and left ventricular ejection fraction of 45% or lower. Sleep-disordered breathing was measured using a two-channel screening device (ApneaLink, ResMed).
Overall, the prevalence of moderate-to-severe sleep-disordered breathing (apnea-hypopnea index 15/hour) in patients with HF was 46%. The prevalence was higher among men compared with women (49% vs. 36%). In addition, prevalence rose with increasing age: 31% among those aged 50 years and younger; 39% among those aged 50 to 60 years; 45% among those aged 60 to 70 years; 52% among those aged 70 to 80 years; and 59% among those aged older than 80 years.
