Adaptive servoventilation improves cardiac function in patients with chronic heart failure and Cheyne-Stokes respiration

Background and aims Sleep disordered breathing (SDB), especially Cheyne-Stokes respiration (CSR) is common in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Adaptive servoventilation (ASV) was recently introduced to treat CSR in CHF. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of ASV on CSR and CHF parameters. Methods In 29 male patients (63.9±9 years, NYHA≥II, left ventricular ejection fraction [LV-EF]≤40%), cardiorespiratory polygraphy, cardiopulmonary exercise (CPX) testing, and echocardiography were performed and concentrations of NT-proBNP determined before and after 5.8±3.5 months (median 5.7 months) of ASV (AutoSet CS™2, ResMed) treatment. All patients also received guideline-driven CHF therapy. Results Apnoea-hypopnoea-index was reduced from 37.4±9.4/h to 3.9±4.1/h (p