Transvenous phrenic nerve stimulation is associated with normalization of nocturnal heart rate perturbations in patients with central sleep apnea

Mathias Baumert, Dominik Linz, Scott McKane, Sarah Immanuel

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)
83 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To determine the effect of transvenous phrenic nerve stimulation (TPNS) on nocturnal heart rate perturbations in patients with CSA. 

METHODS: In this ancillary study of the remedē System Pivotal Trial, we analyzed electrocardiograms from baseline and follow-up overnight polysomnograms (PSG) in 48 CSA patients in sinus rhythm with implanted TPNS randomized to stimulation (treatment group; TPNS on) or no stimulation (control group; TPNS off). We quantified heart rate variability in the time and frequency domain. Mean change from baseline and standard error is provided. 

RESULTS: TPNS titrated to reduce respiratory events is associated with reduced cyclical heart rate variations in the very low-frequency domain across REM (VLFI: 4.12 ± 0.79% vs. 6.87 ± 0.82%, p = 0.02) and NREM sleep (VLFI: 5.05 ± 0.68% vs. 6.74 ± 0.70%, p = 0.08) compared to the control group. Further, low-frequency oscillations were reduced in the treatment arm in REM (LFn: 0.67 ± 0.03 n.u. vs. 0.77 ± 0.03 n.u., p = 0.02) and NREM sleep (LFn: 0.70 ± 0.02 n.u. vs. 0.76 ± 0.02 n.u., p = 0.03). 

CONCLUSION: In adult patients with moderate to severe central sleep apnea, transvenous phrenic nerve stimulation reduces respiratory events and is associated with the normalization of nocturnal heart rate perturbations. Long-term follow-up studies could establish whether the reduction in heart rate perturbation by TPNS also translates into cardiovascular mortality reduction. CLINICAL TRIAL: A Randomized Trial Evaluating the Safety and Effectiveness of the remedē® System in Patients With Central Sleep Apnea, ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01816776.

Original languageEnglish
Article numberzsad166
Number of pages8
JournalSLEEP
Volume46
Issue number9
Early online date7 Jun 2023
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2023
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • central sleep apnea
  • heart rate variability
  • transvenous phrenic nerve stimulation

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Transvenous phrenic nerve stimulation is associated with normalization of nocturnal heart rate perturbations in patients with central sleep apnea'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this