Ventricular Arrhythmias in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Abstract

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a prevalent condition thought to increase in the future. Being mostly undiagnosed, the most serious complications are cardiovascular diseases, among which are arrhythmias. Controversy remains as to whether OSA is a primary etiologic factor for ventricular arrhythmias, because of the high incidence of cardiovascular comorbidities in OSA patients. However, there is mostly a strong evidence of a relation between OSA and ventricular arrhythmias. A few mechanisms have been proposed to be responsible for this association and some electrocardiographic changes have also been demonstrated to be more frequent in OSA patients. Treatment of OSA with Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) has the potential to reduce arrhythmias and confer a mortality benefit.

A case report of an improvement in premature ventricular complex–induced cardiomyopathy following continuous positive airway pressure therapy in a patient with severe obstructive sleep apnoea

“… 2 Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a highly prevalent disease worldwide and is strongly associated with arrhythmias including PVCs. 4 Premature ventricular complexes have been reported in up to two-thirds of patients with OSA, which is significantly higher than the rates reported in patients without OSA. 4 Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is a well-established primary treatment modality in patients with moderate-to-severe OSA.…”

“… 4 Premature ventricular complexes have been reported in up to two-thirds of patients with OSA, which is significantly higher than the rates reported in patients without OSA. 4 Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is a well-established primary treatment modality in patients with moderate-to-severe OSA. 4 Here, we report a case of improvement in PIC in a patient with severe OSA following CPAP therapy.…”

“… 4 Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is a well-established primary treatment modality in patients with moderate-to-severe OSA. 4 Here, we report a case of improvement in PIC in a patient with severe OSA following CPAP therapy.…”

Frequent premature ventricular contractions. Association of burden and complexity with prognosis according to the presence of structural heart disease

“…Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are a common finding during long‐term monitoring (Arnar et al., 2019). Although PVCs can occur in healthy persons, they are more frequent in the presence of structural heart disease (SHD), sleep apnea (Marinheiro et al., 2019), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and hyperthyroidism or stimulants (Einvik et al., 2017). They have been associated with a worse prognosis in patients with SHD, especially if frequent or presenting with complex forms (Kostis et al, 1987).…”

Excessive Atrial Ectopic Activity Worsens Prognosis and Predicts the Type of Major Adverse Cardiac Events in Patients With Frequent Premature Ventricular Contractions

“…Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are a common finding during long-term monitoring [1]. Although PVCs can occur in healthy persons, they are more frequent in the presence of structural heart disease (SHD), sleep apnea [2], chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and hyperthyroidism or stimulants [3]. Frequent PVCs in the presence of SHD are associated with a worse prognosis, especially in ischemic heart disease and in the presence of complex forms.…”