ABSTRACT
Patients suffering from severe heart failure may develop breathing pattern disorders
during sleep, especially in the form of Cheyne-Stokes respiration. Results may be
severe disturbances in sleep architecture and worsening of hemodynamics and of prognosis
of these patients. Causes of the periodic breathing disorders are probably hypocapnia,
hypersensitivity of respiratory control centers, hypoxemia, and prolonged blood circulation
time. This study examined the influence of different concentrations of continously
administered oxygen during the nighttime on breathing pattern disorders, oxygen saturation,
and sleep architecture in 65 patients with severe heart failure (NYHA III-IV). Fifty-two
of 65 patients showed an improvement of sleep architecture. Total sleeping time increased
significantly (p < 0.01). Fragmentations of sleep by arousals decreased ( p < 0.01);
time of random eye movement (REM) sleep and non-REM sleep III and IV increased significantly.
KEYWORD
Cheyne-Stokes respiration - dilated cardiomyopathy - congestive heart failure - oxygen
supply - sleep architecture