Preliminary Study About Effect of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure on Cardiac Autonomic Imbalance in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

J Korean Neurol Assoc > Volume 27(2); 2009 > Article

Journal of the Korean Neurological Association 2009;27(2): 136-141.

폐쇄수면무호흡증에서 나타나는 심장 자율신경계의 불균형에 대한 지속적기도양압환기법의 교정효과(예비연구)

김성혁, 김선태a 성영희 이영배 박현미 박기형

가천의과학대학교 길병원 신경과학교실, 이비인후과학교실

Preliminary Study About Effect of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure on Cardiac Autonomic Imbalance in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

Sung-Hyouk Kim

Departments of Neurology and Otorhinolaryngologya, Gachon University Gil Hospital, Incheon, Korea

Abstract

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is associated with cardiac arrhythmia due to autonomic dysfunction. The aim of this study was to elucidate the effect of OSAS on the QT interval and the efficacy of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment on a prolonged QT interval.
Methods: From March 2007 to January 2008, 13 patients diagnosed as OSAS received CPAP treatment. Ten age- and sex-matched healthy controls were enrolled, and nighttime polysomnography was performed. We analyzed the full-night electrocardiogram?which is one of the elements of nighttime polysomnography?in all patients and controls.
Results: In the patient group, the QTc interval was 0.380±0.45 ms (mean±SD) before CPAP treatment and 0.368±0.32 ms during CPAP treatment. In the control group, the QTc interval was 0.348±0.26 ms. The QTc interval did not differ between OSAS patients and controls (p=0.143), but it did significantly shorten between before and after CPAP treatment (p=0.047).
Conclusions: This study suggests that CPAP treatment can improve QTc prolongation and thereby prevent future ventricular arrhythmia. Key Words: CPAP, QT interval, OSAS, Autonomic system