Cor Vasa 2011, 53(6-7):314-317 | DOI: 10.33678/cor.2011.078

Continuous positive airway pressure ventilation therapy in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in context with heart frequency autonomic regulation

Jan Galuszka^1,*, Milada Hobzová², Kateřina Langová³, Miloš Táborský¹, Ivana Buriánková¹, Soňa Panáková²

¹ I. interní klinika - kardiologická

² Klinika plicních nemocí a tuberkulózy, Fakultní nemocnice Olomouc a Lékařská fakulta Univerzity Palackého

³ Ústav lékařské biofyziky, Lékařská fakulta Univerzity Palackého, Olomouc, Česká republika

Aim: Prospective evaluation of heart rate variability parameters in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome treated with continuous positive airway pressure.

Patients and methods: Patients with OSAS treated in the Department of Respiratory Diseases University Hospital Olomouc in the 2007-2008 period. CPAP treated group of 100 patients was compared to non-CPAP group of 20 patients. The following parameters of heart rate variability during supine-standing-supine test were evaluated: LF/HF ratio, MSSD (ms2). Two evaluations were performed: the first one at the time of OSAS diagnosis and the second one on CPAP therapy several months later.

Results: There were signifficant attenuation of sympathetic predominance in supine position in CPAP treated group of patients.

Conclusion: Sympathetic overactivity is suggested to be essential mechanism participating in OSAS negative health impact. Our findings correspond with CPAP therapy benefits which go hand in hand with attenuation of sympathetic nervous system activity.

Keywords: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome; Continuous positive airway pressure; Autonomic nervous system; Heart rate variability

Published: June 1, 2011  Show citation