The Particulars: Previous studies have indicated that sleep disordered breathing (SDB) is one of the most common comorbidities seen in patients with heart failure (HF). Small studies suggest that central sleep apnea (CSA) increases mortality among outpatients with systolic HF. Whether CSA predicts post-discharge mortality in hospitalized patients with HF has yet to be determined.
Data Breakdown: Hospitalized patients with systolic HF who participated in a study underwent sleep analyses during their hospitalization and were followed for at least 3 years. Among 1,025 patients who survived to discharge, 344 had CSA, 525 had obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and 248 had SDB. CSA independently predicted 12- and 24-month mortality. In addition, the authors found that OSA and CSA independently predicted 24-month readmission.
Take Home Pearls: CSA and OSA appear to be independent predictors of 24-month readmission among patients with systolic HF. CSA appears to be an independent predictors of 12- and 24-month readmission.
