Assessment of Biventricular Function in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Atrial Fibrillation: A Cross-sectional Study Using Two-dimensional Speckle Tracking Imaging
Mghaieth Zghal Fathia
Department of Cardiological Investigations and Resuscitation, La Rabta University Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia and Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia.
Boudiche Selim
Department of Cardiological Investigations and Resuscitation, La Rabta University Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia and Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia.
Sammoud Kais
Department of Cardiological Investigations and Resuscitation, La Rabta University Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia.
Ayari Jihen *
Department of Cardiological Investigations and Resuscitation, La Rabta University Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia.
Ben Ammar Jihen
Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia and Department of Pneumology, Charles Nicole University Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia.
Rekik Bassem
Department of Cardiological Investigations and Resuscitation, La Rabta University Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia and Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia.
Farhati Abdeljelil
Department of Cardiological Investigations and Resuscitation, La Rabta University Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia.
Ouali Sana
Department of Cardiological Investigations and Resuscitation, La Rabta University Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia and Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia.
Larbi Noureddine
Department of Cardiological Investigations and Resuscitation, La Rabta University Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia and Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia.
Ben Halima Manel
Department of Cardiological Investigations and Resuscitation, La Rabta University Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia and Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia.
Mourali Mohamed Sami
Department of Cardiological Investigations and Resuscitation, La Rabta University Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia and Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA) is a common but often under diagnosed condition. According to literature, OSA prevalence in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients varies from 21 to 85%. OSA is increasingly recognized as a risk factor for biventricular dysfunction. The present study aimed to compare left and right ventricular functions, assessed by conventional echocardiographic parameters and speckle tracking imaging, in non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients with and without severe OSA.
Methods: A cross-sectional analytic study was conducted. Forty successive patients with NVAF were included. All of them had a clinical screening for symptoms suggestive of OSA and underwent polysomnographic study. Patients were divided into two groups (group 1: without severe OSA with an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) < 30 events per hour (e/h), and group 2: having severe OSA with an AHI ≥ 30 e/h). Echocardiography was performed in all patients. Left and right ventricular function parameters were measured including global longitudinal strain (GLS) and myocardial performance index (MPI).
Results: OSA was diagnosed in 90% of NVAF patients. The average AHI was 22.1 ± 13 e/h. Eleven patients (27.5%) had mild OSA, 9 patients (22.5%) had moderate OSA, and 16 patients (40%) had severe OSA. General clinical characteristics were comparable between groups. A statistically significant association was demonstrated between severe OSA and impairment of left ventricular GLS (-17.3 ± 4.5 vs. -14.9 ± 3%, in group 1 and 2 respectively, p = 0.02) and left ventricular MPI (0.37 ± 0.09 vs. 0.49 ± 0.13, in group 1 and 2 respectively, p = 0.01). Right ventricular lateral wall strain was non significantly lower in group 1 compared to group 2 (-22.5 ± 8.4 vs. -18.4 ± 5.8%, in group 1 and 2 respectively, p = 0.15). On multivariate logistic regression analysis, left ventricular GLS impairment (> -18%) and MPI > 0.37 were independent predictors of severe OSA.
Conclusion: Severe OSA was diagnosed in 40% of NVAF patients. Impairment of left ventricular GLS and left MPI were statistically associated with severe OSA.
Keywords: Obstructive sleep apnea, atrial fibrillation, left ventricle, right ventricle, echocardiography.