Obstructive Sleep Apnea as a Predictor of Arrhythmias in 24-h ECG Holter Monitoring.

Dominika Urbanik,Grzegorz Mazur,Helena Martynowicz,Maciej Podgórski,Paweł Gać,Rafał Poręba,Małgorzata Poręba

doi:10.3390/brainsci11040486

Dominika Urbanik, Grzegorz Mazur + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11040486

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Journal: Brain sciences	Publication Date: Apr 12, 2021
Citations: 7	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Wroclaw Medical University

Abstract

A relationship between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and abnormalities in 24-h electrocardiogram (ECG) Holter monitoring has not been sufficiently documented. The aim of this study was to analyze the relation between the occurrence and the severity of OSA and the parameters of ECG Holter monitoring in a group of patients with diagnosed OSA. Ninety-four patients with clinical suspicion of OSA were qualified for the study (mean age 53.7). All participants underwent a medical history, laboratory tests, 24-h ECG Holter monitoring, and single-night video-polysomnography (vPSG) using the American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommendations. A group of patients with diagnosed OSA was characterized by more frequent occurrence of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) and ventricular arrhythmias (VPC). A statistically significant positive correlation was shown between the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and average heart rate, supraventricular arrhythmias (SVPC) pairs, SVT, and pauses >2.5 s. In regression analysis, higher AHI constituted an independent predicator for the increased number of pauses >2.5 s, SVT, and SVPC pairs in 24-h ECG Holter monitoring. In summary, patients with OSA are characterized by the increased number of abnormalities in 24-h ECG Holter monitoring.

Highlights

Ninety-four patients with clinical suspicion of obstructive sleep apnea hospitalized in the department of internal medicine were qualified for the study
Reviews of previous studies have shown that sleep apnea constitutes a significant risk factor for development of arrhythmias
Patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are characterized by an increased number of abnormalities in 24-h

Summary

Introduction

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a multifactorial disease that is an increasing social problem of the 21st century. OSA occurs in about 5% of women and 14% of men. It may affect any age group, but most frequently middle age men suffer from this disease [1]. OSA is characterized by recurrent episodes of collapse of the upper respiratory tract resulting in limited or completely blocked air flow (clinically, hypopnea, and apnea are observed). The most frequent causes of sleep apnea are obesity and an enlarged neck circumference; other factors include laryngological diseases such as looseness of the soft palate, tonsil hyperplasia, macroglossia, and excess throat mucus [5], and craniofacial disorders such as retrognation and micrognathism [6,7]

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