1
|
Heinzinger CM, Lapin B, Thompson NR, Li Y, Milinovich A, May AM, Pena Orbea C, Faulx M, Van Wagoner DR, Chung MK, Foldvary-Schaefer N, Mehra R. Novel Sleep Phenotypic Profiles Associated With Incident Atrial Fibrillation in a Large Clinical Cohort. JACC Clin Electrophysiol 2024; 10:2074-2084. [PMID: 39023484 PMCID: PMC11744730 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacep.2024.05.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND While sleep disorders are implicated in atrial fibrillation (AF), the interplay of physiologic alterations and symptoms remains unclear. Sleep-based phenotypes can account for this complexity and translate to actionable approaches to identify at-risk patients and therapeutic interventions. OBJECTIVES This study hypothesized discrete phenotypes of symptoms and polysomnography (PSG)-based data differ in relation to incident AF. METHODS Data from the STARLIT (sleep Signals, Testing, And Reports LInked to patient Traits) registry on Cleveland Clinic patients (≥18 years of age) who underwent PSG from November 27, 2004, to December 30,2015, were retrospectively examined. Phenotypes were identified using latent class analysis of symptoms and PSG-based measures of sleep-disordered breathing and sleep architecture. Phenotypes were included as the primary predictor in a multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazard models for incident AF. RESULTS In our cohort (N = 43,433, age 51.8 ± 14.5 years, 51.9% male, 74.9% White), 7.3% (n = 3,166) had baseline AF. Over a 7.6- ± 3.4-year follow-up period, 8.9% (n = 3,595) developed incident AF. Five phenotypes were identified. The hypoxia subtype (n = 3,245) had 48% increased incident AF (HR: 1.48; 95% CI: 1.34-1.64), the apneas + arousals subtype (n = 4,592) had 22% increased incident AF (HR: 1.22; 95% CI: 1.10-1.35), and the short sleep + nonrapid eye movement subtype (n = 6,126) had 11% increased incident AF (HR: 1.11; 95% CI: 1.01-1.22) compared with long sleep + rapid eye movement (n = 26,809), the reference group. The hypopneas subtype (n = 2,661) did not differ from reference (HR: 0.89; 95% CI: 0.77-1.03). CONCLUSIONS Consistent with prior evidence supporting hypoxia as an AF driver and cardiac risk of the sleepy phenotype, this constellation of symptoms and physiologic alterations illustrates vulnerability for AF development, providing potential value in enhancing our understanding of integrated sleep-specific symptoms and physiologic risk of atrial arrhythmogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Brittany Lapin
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Neurological Institute Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Nicolas R Thompson
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Neurological Institute Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Yadi Li
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Neurological Institute Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Alex Milinovich
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Anna M May
- Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Cinthya Pena Orbea
- Sleep Disorders Center, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Michael Faulx
- Heart, Vascular, and Thoracic Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | | | - Mina K Chung
- Heart, Vascular, and Thoracic Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | | | - Reena Mehra
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
van den Broek JLPM, Gottlieb LA, Vermeer JR, Overeem S, Dekker LRC. When the Clock Strikes A-fib. JACC Clin Electrophysiol 2024; 10:1916-1928. [PMID: 39093277 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacep.2024.05.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
Within the broad spectrum of atrial fibrillation (AF) symptomatology, there is a striking subset of patients with predominant or even solitary nocturnal onset of the arrhythmia. This review covers AF with nocturnal onset, with the aim of defining this distinctive subgroup among patients with AF. A periodicity analysis is provided showing a clear increased onset between 10:00 pm and 7:00 am. Multiple interacting mechanisms are discussed, such as circadian modulation of electrophysiological properties, vagal tone, and sleep disorders, as well as the potential interaction and synergism between these factors, to provide a better understanding of this clinical entity. Lastly, potential therapeutic targets for AF with nocturnal onset are addressed such as upstream therapy for underlying comorbidities, type of drug and timing of drug administration and pulmonary vein isolation, ablation of the ganglionated plexus, and autonomic nervous system modulation. Understanding the underlying AF mechanisms in the individual patient with nocturnal onset will contribute to patient-specific therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Johannes L P M van den Broek
- Department of Cardiology, Catharina Hospital Eindhoven, Eindhoven, the Netherlands; Department of Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands.
| | | | - Jasper R Vermeer
- Department of Cardiology, Catharina Hospital Eindhoven, Eindhoven, the Netherlands; Department of Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands
| | - Sebastiaan Overeem
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands; Kempenhaeghe Centre for Sleep Medicine, Heeze, the Netherlands
| | - Lukas R C Dekker
- Department of Cardiology, Catharina Hospital Eindhoven, Eindhoven, the Netherlands; Department of Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Heinzinger CM, Thompson NR, Milinovich A, Diniz Araujo ML, Orbea CP, Foldvary‐Schaefer N, Haouzi P, Faulx M, Van Wagoner DR, Chung MK, Mehra R. Sleep-Disordered Breathing, Hypoxia, and Pulmonary Physiologic Influences in Atrial Fibrillation. J Am Heart Assoc 2023; 12:e031462. [PMID: 37947123 PMCID: PMC10727289 DOI: 10.1161/jaha.123.031462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We leverage a large clinical cohort to elucidate sleep-disordered breathing and sleep-related hypoxia in incident atrial fibrillation (AF) development given the yet unclear contributions of sleep-related hypoxia and pulmonary physiology in sleep-disordered breathing and AF. METHODS AND RESULTS Patients who underwent sleep studies at Cleveland Clinic January 2, 2000, to December 30, 2015, comprised this retrospective cohort. Cox proportional hazards models were used to examine apnea hypopnea index, percentage time oxygen saturation <90%, minimum and mean oxygen saturation, and maximum end-tidal carbon dioxide on incident AF adjusted for age, sex, race, body mass index, cardiopulmonary disease and risk factors, antiarrhythmic medications, and positive airway pressure. Those with spirometry were additionally adjusted for forced expiratory volume in 1 second, forced vital capacity, and forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity. This cohort (n=42 057) was 50.7±14.1 years, 51.3% men, 74.1% White individuals, had median body mass index 33.2 kg/m2, and 1947 (4.6%) developed AF over 5 years. A 10-unit apnea hypopnea index increase was associated with 2% higher AF risk (hazard ratio [HR], 1.02 [95% CI, 1.00-1.03]). A 10-unit increase in percentage time oxygen saturation <90% and 10-unit decreases in mean and minimum oxygen saturation were associated with 6% (HR, 1.06 [95% CI, 1.04-1.08]), 30% (HR, 1.30 [95% CI, 1.18-1.42]), and 9% (HR, 1.09 [95% CI, 1.03-1.15]) higher AF risk, respectively. After adjustment for spirometry (n=9683 with available data), only hypoxia remained significantly associated with incident AF, although all coefficients were stable. CONCLUSIONS Sleep-related hypoxia was associated with incident AF in this clinical cohort, consistent across 3 measures of hypoxia, persistent after adjustment for pulmonary physiologic impairment. Findings identify a strong role for sleep-related hypoxia in AF development without pulmonary physiologic interdependence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Nicolas R. Thompson
- Department of Quantitative Health SciencesCleveland ClinicClevelandOH
- Neurological Institute Center for Outcomes Research & EvaluationCleveland ClinicClevelandOH
| | - Alex Milinovich
- Department of Quantitative Health SciencesCleveland ClinicClevelandOH
| | | | - Cinthya Pena Orbea
- Sleep Disorders Center, Neurological InstituteCleveland ClinicClevelandOH
| | | | | | - Michael Faulx
- Heart, Vascular, and Thoracic InstituteCleveland ClinicClevelandOH
| | | | - Mina K. Chung
- Heart, Vascular, and Thoracic InstituteCleveland ClinicClevelandOH
- Lerner Research InstituteCleveland ClinicClevelandOH
| | - Reena Mehra
- Sleep Disorders Center, Neurological InstituteCleveland ClinicClevelandOH
- Respiratory InstituteCleveland ClinicClevelandOH
- Heart, Vascular, and Thoracic InstituteCleveland ClinicClevelandOH
- Lerner Research InstituteCleveland ClinicClevelandOH
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Mills EW, Antman EM, Javaheri S. Breathless nights and heart flutters: Understanding the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea and atrial fibrillation. Heart Rhythm 2023; 20:1267-1273. [PMID: 37127146 DOI: 10.1016/j.hrthm.2023.04.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
There is an extraordinary and increasing global burden of atrial fibrillation (AF) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), two conditions that frequently accompany one another and that share underlying risk factors. Whether a causal pathophysiologic relationship connects OSA to the development and/or progression of AF, or whether shared risk factors promote both conditions, is unproven. With increasing recognition of the importance of controlling AF-related risk factors, numerous observational studies now highlight the potential benefits of OSA treatment in AF-related outcomes. Physicians are regularly faced with caring for this important and increasing population of patients despite a paucity of clinical guidance on the topic. Here, we review the clinical epidemiology and pathophysiology of AF and OSA with a focus on key clinical studies and major outstanding questions that should be addressed in future studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eric W Mills
- Division of Cardiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
| | - Elliott M Antman
- Cardiovascular Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Sogol Javaheri
- Division of Sleep Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Ifedili I, Ingram E, Blount C, Kayali S, Heckle M, Levine YC. Vagal milieu or electrophysiologic substrate? The link between atrial fibrillation and obstructive sleep apnea. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2022; 247:1827-1832. [PMID: 36112833 PMCID: PMC9679354 DOI: 10.1177/15353702221120289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Atrial fibrillation is the most common cardiac arrhythmia with its prevalence expected to increase to 12.1 million people in the United States by 2030. Chronic underlying conditions that affect the heart and lungs predispose patients to develop atrial fibrillation. Obstructive sleep apnea is strongly associated with atrial fibrillation. Several pathophysiological mechanisms have been proposed to elucidate this relationship which includes electrophysiological substrate modification and the contribution of the autonomic nervous system. In this comprehensive review, we highlight important relationships and plausible causality between obstructive sleep apnea and atrial fibrillation which will improve our understanding in the evaluation, management, and prevention of atrial fibrillation. This is the most updated comprehensive review of the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea and atrial fibrillation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ikechukwu Ifedili
- Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Eva Ingram
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Courtland Blount
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Sharif Kayali
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Mark Heckle
- Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
- Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, Memphis, TN 38104, USA
| | - Yehoshua C Levine
- Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
- Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, Memphis, TN 38104, USA
| |
Collapse
|