Severe sleep apnea, Cheyne-Stokes respiration and desaturation in patients with decompensated heart failure at high altitude

To determine the sleep-disordered breathing in patients with decompensated HF (DHF) at an altitude of 2640m. Polysomnogram during the first 48 hours of admission in patients hospitalized for DHF. Sleep apnea (SA) was defined as an apnea hypopnea index (AHI) > 5/hour and central sleep apnea (CSA) as central apnea index (CAI) ≥ 50% of the AHI. Sixteen participants, LVEF 24.2±9.9%. All patients had SA, severe in 12 (75%), CSA in 8 (50%) and 7 (43.8%) presented Cheyne-Stokes respiration (CSR). Out of the eight patients with obstructive SA, five had a central component (CAI ≥ 5/h). The SpO2 decreased during sleep to 80.6±5.5% and in patients with CSR to 77.6±6.9%. At an altitude of 2640m all patients with DHF presented sleep apnea, most were severe, with CSA and a significant percentage of CSR that was associated with higher oxygen desaturation.