Subclinical and latent cardiac dysfunction in obstructive sleep apnea and effectiveness of continuous positive airway pressure.

Purpose: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with various cardiovascular disorders. This study aimed to investigate the effects of OSA on left ventricular (LV) function in patients with OSA who were at risk for heart failure but who had not yet developed structural heart changes. The study also sought to determine the effects of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in these patients.

Methods: In a retrospective study, consecutive patients with polysomnographic OSA (apnea-hypopnea index [AHI] >5) were categorized into mild (AHI < 15), moderate (15 ≤ AHI < 30), and severe OSA (AHI ≥ 30) groups. The subjects were patients with OSA and at risk for heart failure who had not yet developed structural heart changes. All study participants underwent echocardiography and two-dimensional speckle tracking analysis, and their global longitudinal strain (GLS) was calculated.

Results: Of 275 patients, there were 31 with mild, 92 with moderate, and 152 with severe OSA. Of patients with moderate to severe OSA (AHI ≥ 20), 206 started CPAP and 92 patients underwent follow-up echocardiogram and speckle tracking echo analysis (median period of CPAP use: 283 days [258 to 391]). GLS was significantly reduced in patients with moderate and severe OSA compared with mild OSA (-17.8±3.1 vs. -18.0±2.6 vs. -19.3±2.8%, p=0.038). The proportion of patients with GLS ≥ -18% was significantly higher among the patients with moderate to severe OSA than among those with mild OSA. GLS improved after CPAP therapy in patients with moderate to severe OSA (GLS: -18.1±2.7% to -19.0±2.8%, p=0.004). Significant improvement in GLS was confirmed, particularly among patients with good CPAP adherence.

Conclusion: Moderate to severe OSA is associated with LV dysfunction and can be significantly improved by CPAP therapy.