Correlates of sleep-disordered breathing and Cheyne–Stokes respiration in patients with atrial fibrillation who have undergone pulmonary vein isolation

Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) is a common comorbidity in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Patients undergoing pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) for AF have a high prevalence of SDB. In previous studies, some patients with AF had Cheyne–Stokes respiration (CSR). The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence of SDB and the correlates of SDB severity and CSR in AF patients who have undergone PVI. The study was conducted using a single-center observational design. All participants underwent a home sleep apnea test (ApneaLink Air, ResMed, Australia), which could determine the severity of SDB as assessed by the apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) and the percentage of CSR (%CSR) pattern. 139 AF patients who underwent PVI were included in the study. Overall, 38 (27.3%) patients had no SDB (AHI < 5), 53 (38.1%) had mild SDB (5 ≤ AHI < 15), 33 (23.7%) had moderate SDB (15 ≤ AHI < 30), and 15 (10.8%) had severe SDB (AHI ≥ 30). Correlates of the increased AHI included male sex (β = 0.23, p = 0.004), age (β = 0.19, p = 0.020), high body mass index (β = 0.31, p < 0.001), and β blockers usage (β = 0.18, p = 0.024). Conversely, correlates with the %CSR rate included male sex (β = 0.18, p = 0.020), age (β = 0.19, p = 0.015), non-paroxysmal AF (β = 0.22, p = 0.008), and high glycohemoglobin A1c (β = 0.36, p < 0.001) and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (β = 0.24, p = 0.005) levels. SDB is prevalent in patients with AF who have undergone PVI; predisposing factors for SDB include male sex, older age, and obesity. CSR occurs in patients with AF who have undergone PVI; predisposing factors for CSR include male sex, older age, high left ventricular filling pressure, and abnormal blood glucose level.