The influence of timing of polysomnography on diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea in patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction and stable coronary artery disease

Association of obstructive sleep apnoea with long-term cardiovascular events in patients with acute coronary syndrome with or without hypertension: insight from the OSA-ACS project

BACKGROUND

A close relationship exists between obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and hypertension. However, the impact of hypertension on the prognostic significance of OSA in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) remains unclear.

METHODS

This is a post hoc analysis of the OSA-ACS project, which consecutively included patients with ACS and receiving overnight sleep study from June 2015 to January 2020. OSA was defined as AHI ≥15 events/hour. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE), including a composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, ischemia-driven revascularisation or hospitalisation for unstable angina or heart failure.

RESULTS

A total of 1927 patients with ACS were finally enrolled in this study. The mean patient age was 56.4±10.5 years. Among them, 1247 (64.7%) patients had hypertension, and 1014 (52.6%) patients had OSA. During 2.9 (1.5, 3.6) years of follow-up, OSA was associated with an increased risk of MACCE among patients with hypertension (HR=1.35, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.75, p=0.02), but not in patients without hypertension (HR=1.15, 95% CI 0.79 to 1.68, p=0.47). The interaction between OSA and hypertension for MACCE was not statistically significant (interaction p=0.29). For patients with pre-existing hypertension, OSA was associated with an increased risk of MACCE only among those with grade 3 hypertension (HR 1.54, 95% CI 1.12 to 2.13, p=0.008), but not those with grade 1 or 2 hypertension.

CONCLUSIONS

OSA was associated with an increased risk of MACCE following ACS in patients with hypertension, especially in patients with pre-existing severe hypertension. These findings highlight the importance of identifying OSA in ACS patients with hypertension.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT03362385.

Prognostic Implications of OSA in Acute Coronary Syndrome by Obesity Status

BACKGROUND

A close relationship exists between OSA and obesity. The impact of obesity on the prognostic significance of OSA in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) remains unclear.

RESEARCH QUESTION

Do the effects of OSA on subsequent cardiovascular events in patients with ACS vary with obesity status?

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

This is a prospective cohort study. Patients 18 to 85 years of age and hospitalized for ACS were consecutively enrolled and underwent portable sleep monitoring after clinical stabilization. OSA was defined as an apnea hypopnea index ≥ 15 events/h. The primary end point was major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular event (MACCE), including cardiovascular death, hospitalization for ACS, stroke, ischemia-driven revascularization, or hospitalization for heart failure.

RESULTS

Among 1,920 patients enrolled (84.5% men; mean age ± SD, 56.4 ± 10.5 years), 1,013 (52.8%) had OSA, and 718 (37.4%) were obese (BMI ≥ 28 kg/m²). During 2.9 years (1.5, 3.6) follow up, the incidence of MACCE was significantly higher in patients with obesity than in patients without obesity (hazard ratio [HR], 1.29; 95% CI, 1.06-1.58; P = .013). Although the prevalence of OSA was lower in patients without obesity than in those with obesity (43.9% vs 67.5%, P < .001), OSA independently predicted the incidence of MACCE only in patients without obesity (adjusted HR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.03-1.75; P = .03), but not in patients with obesity (adjusted HR, 1.10; 95% CI, 0.78-1.55; P = .58). No significant interaction between obesity and OSA was noted (P for interaction = .35). The incremental risk associated with OSA in patients without obesity might be explained by more hospitalization for ACS and ischemia-driven revascularization.

INTERPRETATION

For patients with ACS, OSA was independently associated with an increased risk of subsequent events, particularly among patients without obesity. These findings highlight the importance of identifying OSA in nonobese patients with ACS.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov; No.: NCT03362385; URL: www.

CLINICALTRIALS

gov.

Association of Obstructive Sleep Apnea With Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome

Background

The prognostic significance of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in the contemporary era is unclear. We performed a large, prospective cohort study and did a landmark analysis to delineate the association of OSA with subsequent cardiovascular events after ACS onset.

Methods and Results

Between June 2015 and May 2017, consecutive eligible patients admitted for ACS underwent cardiorespiratory polygraphy during hospitalization. OSA was defined as an apnea‐hypopnea index ≥15 events·h⁻¹. The primary end point was major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular event (MACCE), including cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, ischemia‐driven revascularization, or hospitalization for unstable angina or heart failure. OSA was present in 403 of 804 (50.1%) patients. During median follow‐up of 1 year, cumulative incidence of MACCE was significantly higher in the OSA group than in the non‐OSA group (log‐rank, P=0.041). Multivariate analysis showed that OSA was nominally associated with incidence of MACCE (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.55; 95% CI, 0.94–2.57; P=0.085). In the landmark analysis, patients with OSA had 3.9 times the risk of incurring a MACCE after 1 year (adjusted hazard ratio, 3.87; 95% CI, 1.20–12.46; P=0.023), but no increased risk was found within 1‐year follow‐up (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.18; 95% CI, 0.67–2.09; P=0.575). No significant differences were found in the incidence of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, and ischemia‐driven revascularization, except for a higher rate of hospitalization for unstable angina in the OSA group than in the non‐OSA group (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.10; 95% CI, 1.09–4.05; P=0.027).

Conclusions

There was no independent correlation between OSA and 1‐year MACCE after ACS. The increased risk associated with OSA was only observed after 1‐year follow‐up. Efficacy of OSA treatment as secondary prevention after ACS requires further investigation.

Clinical significance of obstructive sleep apnea in patients with acute coronary syndrome in relation to diabetes status

OBJECTIVE

The prognostic significance of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) according to diabetes mellitus (DM) status remains unclear. We aimed to elucidate the association of OSA with subsequent cardiovascular events in patients with ACS with or without DM.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

In this prospective cohort study, consecutive eligible patients with ACS underwent cardiorespiratory polygraphy between June 2015 and May 2017. OSA was defined as an Apnea Hypopnea Index ≥15 events/hour. The primary end point was major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs), including cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, ischemia-driven revascularization, or hospitalization for unstable angina or heart failure.

RESULTS

Among 804 patients, 248 (30.8%) had DM and 403 (50.1%) had OSA. OSA was associated with 2.5 times the risk of 1 year MACCE in patients with DM (22.3% vs 7.1% in the non-OSA group; adjusted HR (HR)=2.49, 95% CI 1.16 to 5.35, p=0.019), but not in patients without DM (8.5% vs 7.7% in the non-OSA group, adjusted HR=0.94, 95% CI 0.51 to 1.75, p=0.85). Patients with DM without OSA had a similar 1 year MACCE rate as patients without DM. The increased risk of events was predominately isolated to patients with OSA with baseline glucose or hemoglobin A1c levels above the median. Combined OSA and longer hypoxia duration (time with arterial oxygen saturation <90%>22 min) further increased the MACCE rate to 31.0% in patients with DM.

CONCLUSIONS

OSA was associated with increased risk of 1 year MACCE following ACS in patients with DM, but not in non-DM patients. Further trials exploring the efficacy of OSA treatment in high-risk patients with ACS and DM are warranted.

Prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing in acute coronary syndrome: a systemic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

This study aimed to review the literature on the prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

METHODS

Relevant studies were searched on PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library through December 2014. Data were extracted using standardized forms. Pooled prevalence of all SDB (apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) > 5), moderate-to-severe SDB (AHI > 15), and severe SDB (AHI > 30) in ACS patients was calculated using DerSimonian-Laird random-effects model. Sensitivity analysis was performed based on races and diagnostic methods of SDB.

RESULTS

A total of 32 studies were included in the present meta-analysis, examining 3360 patients. The meta-analysis indicated that pooled prevalence of all SDB (AHI > 5), moderate-to-severe SDB (AHI > 15), and severe SDB (AHI > 30) in ACS patients were 69 % (95 % confidence interval (CI) = 61, 77 %), 43 % (95 % CI = 36, 49 %), and 25 % (95 % CI = 17, 33 %), respectively. Sensitivity analysis indicated that the pooled prevalence of SDB in Western population was similar to that in Asian population. However, diagnostic methods of SDB seemed to have various impacts on the prevalence of all SDB (AHI > 5), moderate-to-severe SDB (AHI > 15), and severe SDB (AHI > 30).

CONCLUSIONS

High prevalence of all SDB, moderate-to-severe SDB, and severe SDB was found in ACS patients. It is clinically important to screen for SDB in patients with ACS.

Effect of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Acute Coronary Syndrome

The effect of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) on clinical outcomes after acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is incompletely defined. We sought to determine the prevalence of OSA in patients with ACS and evaluate prognostic impact of OSA and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy in these patients. This was a prospective longitudinal cohort study of 73 patients admitted on cardiac intensive care unit for ACS. Cardiorespiratory sleep study and/or polysomnography were performed in all patients. CPAP was recommended if Apnea-Hypopnea Index ≥5. The main study outcome was a composite of death for any cause, myocardial infarction, and myocardial revascularization. OSA was diagnosed in 46 patients (63%). Age and cardiovascular risk factors were not significantly different between groups. OSA was classified as mild (m-OSA) in 14 patients (30%) and as moderate-to-severe (s-OSA) in 32 patients (70%). After a median follow-up of 75 months (interquartile range 71 to 79), patients with s-OSA had lower event-free survival rate. After adjustment for gender, patients with s-OSA showed a significantly higher incidence of the composite end point (hazard ratio 3.58, 95% CI 1.09 to 17.73, p = 0.035). Adherence to CPAP occurred in 19 patients (41%), but compliance to CPAP therapy did not reduce the risk of composite end point (hazard ratio 0.87, 95% CI 0.31 to 2.46, p = 0.798). In conclusion, OSA is an underdiagnosed disease with high prevalence in patients with ACS. It is urgent to establish screening protocols because those have high diagnostic yield and allow identifying a group of patients with manifestly unfavorable prognosis.

Very early screening for sleep-disordered breathing in acute coronary syndrome in patients without acute heart failure

BACKGROUND

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is frequently associated with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Screening of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) has not been previously evaluated in ACS within 72 h in intensive care settings and its management could potentially enhance patients' prognosis. This pilot study assessed the feasibility of SDB screening at the early phase of ACS.

METHODS

All consecutive patients admitted to the coronary care unit (CCU) for ACS without acute heart failure underwent one overnight-attended polysomnography (PSG) within 72 h after admission. A telemonitoring (TM) system was set up to remotely monitor the signals and repair faulty sensors. The 27 recordings were analyzed as respiratory polygraphy (RP) and as PSG, and the results were compared.

RESULTS

The TM system allowed successful intervention in 48% of recordings, resulting in excellent quality PSG for 89% of cases. The prevalence of SDB [apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) ≥ 15/h] was 82% and mainly consisted of central SDB and periodic breathing, except three patients with OSA. Compared with PSG, RP underestimated AHI, probably due to the poor sleep efficiency, reduction of slow-wave sleep, and alteration of rapid eye movement sleep.

CONCLUSION

An early SDB screening by remote-attended PSG is feasible in ACS patients shortly after admission to CCU. The TM enhanced the quality of PSG. A high prevalence of central SDB was noticed, for which the etiology remains unknown. Further large-scale studies are needed to determine whether central SDB is an incidental finding in early ACS and whether the presence and severity of SDB have a prognostic impact.

Impact of obstructive sleep apnea on cardiovascular outcomes in patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention: rationale and design of the sleep and stent study

Elucidating the effects of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) on cardiovascular outcomes is crucial in risk assessments and therapeutic recommendations for affected individuals. The Sleep and Stent Study is a multicenter observational study investigating the relationships between OSA and cardiovascular outcomes in patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Eight centers in 5 countries (Singapore, China and Hong Kong, India, Myanmar, and Brazil) are participating in the study, and the recruitment target is 1600 patients. Adult patients age 18 to 80 years who have undergone successful PCI are eligible. Recruited patients will undergo an overnight sleep study using a level-3 portable diagnostic device before hospital discharge. The sleep tracings will be analyzed by a certified sleep technologist and audited by a sleep physician, both of whom will be blinded to other study data. The patients will be divided into 2 groups based on apnea-hypopnea index (AHI): OSA (AHI ≥15) and non-OSA (AHI <15) groups. The primary study endpoint of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, and unplanned revascularization will be compared between the OSA and non-OSA groups at a median follow-up of 2 years. Secondary endpoints include all-cause mortality, target-vessel revascularization, stent thrombosis, and hospitalization for heart failure. As of December 31, 2013, a total of 1358 patients have been recruited. Based on the complete preliminary results of the first 785 recruited patients, the prevalence of OSA was 48.3%. We expect the follow-up for primary endpoint to be completed in late 2015; study results will be presented in 2016.

Prognostic implication of obstructive sleep apnea diagnosed by post-discharge sleep study in patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to determine the prognostic implications of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) diagnosed during the recovery phase of acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

METHODS

Patients presenting with ACS and treated with percutaneous coronary intervention were recruited prospectively for a home-based sleep study within 30 days of hospital discharge. Major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs) assessed included cardiac death, myocardial infarction, stroke, unplanned revascularization, and hospitalization for heart failure.

RESULTS

Of the 85 patients recruited, 68 successfully completed the study. The median time from percutaneous coronary intervention to sleep study was 14 days (interquartile range: 7.5-27 days). OSA was diagnosed in 24 patients (35.3%) (apnea-hypopnea index > or =15). A drug-eluting stent was implanted into the target lesion in 45 patients (66.2%). None of the study patients had received treatment for OSA. At 24-month follow-up, the MACCE incidence was 34.9% in the OSA group and 5.1% in the non-OSA group (P=0.008, log-rank test). After adjusting for the possible confounding effect of age, gender, coronary intervention indications, hypertension, smoking, and body mass index, OSA remained an independent predictor of MACCEs (adjusted hazard ratio, 6.95; 95% confidence interval, 1.17-41.4; P=0.033).

CONCLUSION

OSA diagnosed in patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention for ACS by post-discharge sleep studies conducted 2 weeks after percutaneous coronary intervention was independently associated with MACCEs at 24-month follow-up.