Sleep-disordered breathing in patients with cardiovascular diseases cannot be detected by ESS, STOP-BANG, and Berlin questionnaires

Abstract

Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is highly prevalent in patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and associated with poor outcome. At least 50% of heart failure (HF) patients present with SDB, equally divided in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and central sleep apnea (CSA). CVD patients with SDB do not always present with typical SDB symptoms. Therefore, we asked whether established questionnaires allow for the reliable detection of SDB. In this prospective cohort study, 89 CVD patients (54 male, 59 ± 15 years, BMI 30 ± 6 kg/m) in stable clinical state underwent an ambulatory polygraphy. SDB was defined as an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) ≥ 15/h. We evaluated the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), STOP-BANG and Berlin questionnaires as well as anthropometric data and comorbidities regarding their ability to predict SDB. The ESS showed no correlation with SDB. The sensitivity of the Berlin Questionnaire to detect SDB was 73%, specificity was 42%. The STOP-BANG questionnaire showed a sensitivity of 97% while specificity was 13%. Coronary heart disease and/or history of myocardial infarction, hyperuricemia and age significantly contributed to a logistic regression model predicting presence of SDB. However, our regression model explains only 36% of the variance regarding the presence or absence of SDB. The approach to find variables, which would allow an early and reliable differentiation between patients with CVD and coexistence or absence of SDB, failed. Thus, as CVD patients show a high SDB prevalence and poor outcome, only a systematic screening based on measures of respiration-related parameters (i.e., respiratory flow, blood oxygen saturation, etc.) allows for a reliable SDB assessment.

Obstructive sleep apnoea in acute coronary syndrome

“…Age, BMI, ESS, peak level of troponin and use of calcium antagonists were all associated with OSA, but no statistical model allowed prediction of OSA [65]. This confirms data from REUTER et al [66] in stable patients with chronic cardiovascular diseases. They found that the STOP-BANG and Berlin questionnaires did not reliably detect or exclude SDB in patients with cardiovascular diseases.…”

The use and effectiveness of adaptive servo ventilation in central sleep apnea: a study of consecutive sleep clinic patients

“…Finally, we used the ESS to assess symptom response to therapy. Although the ESS does not reliably predict sleep‐disordered breathing, especially in those with cardiovascular disease (Reuter et al, ), it is a widely used measure of symptom response. In addition, all patients were assessed by clinicians during therapy and ASV was prescribed on the basis of subjective improvement in symptoms and objective control of sleep apnea.…”

Particularities of Older Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Heart Failure with Mid-Range Ejection Fraction

“…Questionnaires do not accurately predict OSAS in patients with cardio-vascular disease (CVD) [31]. Epworth Sleepiness Scale and SAS score can be beneficial in predicting OSAS, but in our groups of patients, although the values are high, differences between groups are insignificant [32].…”