Citation: Treatment of tachycardia: bradycardia syndrome in a patient with
obstructive sleep apnoea.
BMJ Case Rep. 2015;2015
Authors: Lagan J, Saravanan P
Abstract: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSAS) affects 4% of men and 2% of women
aged 30-65 years. It is diagnosed in the presence of excessive daytime
sleepiness and an apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI) of ≥5 on polysomnography. Rhythm
disturbances are common in OSAS and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)
has been shown to be beneficial. We present a case of a patient with obesity,
atrial fibrillation with fast ventricular response, significant nocturnal pauses
(3.9 s) and tachycardiomyopathy. A polysomnography confirmed severe OSAS
(AHI=64.25). CPAP improved bradycardia and allowed for the introduction of
β-blockers. Subsequent Holter monitoring revealed better rate control with the
longest pause of 2 s and the patient's left ventricular systolic function
improved. CPAP prevented our patient from invasive treatment, allowed for rate
control and improvement of tachycardiomyopathy. With such a high prevalence of
OSAS, clinicians should be aware that CPAP may aid arrhythmia control.
PMID: 25833907 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Link to Pubmed record
