Abstract
A recent study in severe heart failure (HF) patients indicates a possible pathophysiological role of an impaired pulmonary diffusion capacity and respiratory disturbance during sleep, especially the degree of Cheyne-Stokes respiration (CSR). Aim of the present study was to verify this hypothesis in a larger cohort of HF patients.
In 87 patients (83 male, age 68 ± 9 years) with polysomnography confirmed and untreated CSR due to cardiac failure (NYHA ≥ II, LV-EF ≤45%), pulmonary diffusion capacity (TLCO and KCO) were prospectively investigated using the single-breath method. Apnoea-hypopnoea-index (AHI) was 38.0 ±14/h, LV-EF 34 ± 7%, TLCO 67 ± 17% of normal and alveolar-volume corrected diffusion capacity (KCO) 85 ± 20% of normal. Correlation analysis using Spearman rank order correlation revealed no significant correlation of AHI and TLCO (r = 0.071, p = 0.516) or AHI and KCO (0.019, p = 0.863).
In our cohort of HF patients with untreated CSR no correlation of respiratory disturbance during sleep and pulmonary diffusion capacity was found. Thus, a significant role of an impaired pulmonary diffusion on CSR genesis seems to be unlikely.
- © 2012 ERS