Donate Help Contact The AHA Sign In Home
American Heart Association
Circulation
Search: search_blue_button Advanced Search
Circulation. 2004;110:364-367
Published online before print July 12, 2004, doi: 10.1161/01.CIR.0000136587.68725.8E
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
110/4/364    most recent
01.CIR.0000136587.68725.8Ev1
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Request Permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Gami, A. S.
Right arrow Articles by Somers, V. K.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Gami, A. S.
Right arrow Articles by Somers, V. K.
Related Collections
Right arrow Obesity
Right arrow Other etiology
Right arrow Acute coronary syndromes
Right arrow Arrhythmias, clinical electrophysiology, drugs
Right arrow Epidemiology

(Circulation. 2004;110:364-367.)
© 2004 American Heart Association, Inc.


Original Articles

Association of Atrial Fibrillation and Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Apoor S. Gami, MD; Gregg Pressman, MD; Sean M. Caples, MD; Ravi Kanagala, MD; Joseph J. Gard, BS; Diane E. Davison, RN, MA; Joseph F. Malouf, MD; Naser M. Ammash, MD; Paul A. Friedman, MD; Virend K. Somers, MD, PhD

From the Division of Cardiovascular Diseases (A.S.G., R.K., D.E.D., J.F.M., N.M.A., P.A.F., V.K.S.), Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine (S.M.C.), Division of Hypertension (V.K.S.), and Department of Internal Medicine (A.S.G., S.M.C., R.K., J.J.G., D.E.D., J.F.M., N.M.A., P.A.F., V.K.S.), Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minn, and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Hamilton (G.P.), Hamilton, NJ.

Correspondence to Virend K. Somers, MD, DPhil, Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, 200 First St SW, Rochester, MN 55905. E-mail somers.virend{at}mayo.edu

Received February 20, 2004; revision received April 13, 2004; accepted April 15, 2004.

Background— Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with recurrent atrial fibrillation (AF) after electrocardioversion. OSA is highly prevalent in patients who are male, obese, and/or hypertensive, but its prevalence in patients with AF is unknown.

Methods and Results— We prospectively studied consecutive patients undergoing electrocardioversion for AF (n=151) and consecutive patients without past or current AF referred to a general cardiology practice (n=312). OSA was diagnosed with the Berlin questionnaire, which is validated to identify patients with OSA. We also assessed its accuracy compared with polysomnography in a sample of the study population. Groups were compared with the 2-tailed t, Wilcoxon, and {chi}2 tests. Logistic regression modeled the association of AF and OSA after adjustment for relevant covariates. Patients in each group had similar age, gender, body mass index, and rates of diabetes, hypertension, and congestive heart failure. The questionnaire performed with 0.86 sensitivity, 0.89 specificity, and 0.97 positive predictive value in our sample. The proportion of patients with OSA was significantly higher in the AF group than in the general cardiology group (49% versus 32%, P=0.0004). The adjusted odds ratio for the association between AF and OSA was 2.19 (95% CI 1.40 to 3.42, P=0.0006).

Conclusions— The novel finding of this study is that a strong association exists between OSA and AF, such that OSA is strikingly more prevalent in patients with AF than in high-risk patients with multiple other cardiovascular diseases. The coinciding epidemics of obesity and AF underscore the clinical importance of these results.


Key Words: sleep • fibrillation • risk factors • arrhythmia • hypertension • obesity




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
CirculationHome page
V. K. Somers, D. P. White, R. Amin, W. T. Abraham, F. Costa, A. Culebras, S. Daniels, J. S. Floras, C. E. Hunt, L. J. Olson, et al.
Sleep Apnea and Cardiovascular Disease: An American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Foundation Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association Council for High Blood Pressure Research Professional Education Committee, Council on Clinical Cardiology, Stroke Council, and Council on Cardiovascular Nursing In Collaboration With the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Center on Sleep Disorders Research (National Institutes of Health)
Circulation, September 2, 2008; 118(10): 1080 - 1111.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Eur Heart JHome page
I. H. Stevenson, H. Teichtahl, D. Cunnington, S. Ciavarella, I. Gordon, and J. M. Kalman
Prevalence of sleep disordered breathing in paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation patients with normal left ventricular function
Eur. Heart J., July 1, 2008; 29(13): 1662 - 1669.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
EuropaceHome page
A. Baranchuk, C. S. Simpson, D. P. Redfearn, and M. Fitzpatrick
It's time to wake up!: sleep apnea and cardiac arrhythmias
Europace, June 1, 2008; 10(6): 666 - 667.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
ChestHome page
F. Lopez-Jimenez, F. H. Sert Kuniyoshi, A. Gami, and V. K. Somers
Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Implications for Cardiac and Vascular Disease
Chest, March 1, 2008; 133(3): 793 - 804.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Proc Am Thorac SocHome page
J. M. Golbin, V. K. Somers, and S. M. Caples
Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Cardiovascular Disease, and Pulmonary Hypertension
Proceedings of the ATS, February 15, 2008; 5(2): 200 - 206.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Postgrad. Med. J.Home page
J Amit Benjamin and K E Lewis
Sleep-disordered breathing and cardiovascular disease
Postgrad. Med. J., January 1, 2008; 84(987): 15 - 22.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
ChestHome page
A. Romero-Corral, V. K. Somers, P. A. Pellikka, E. J. Olson, K. R. Bailey, J. Korinek, M. Orban, J. Sierra-Johnson, M. Kato, R. S. Amin, et al.
Decreased Right and Left Ventricular Myocardial Performance in Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Chest, December 1, 2007; 132(6): 1863 - 1870.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J Am Coll CardiolHome page
A. Cassar, T. I. Morgenthaler, R. J. Lennon, C. S. Rihal, and A. Lerman
Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Is Associated With Decreased Cardiac Death After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., October 2, 2007; 50(14): 1310 - 1314.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Physiol. Regul. Integr. Comp. Physiol.Home page
G. Parati, C. Lombardi, and K. Narkiewicz
Sleep apnea: epidemiology, pathophysiology, and relation to cardiovascular risk
Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, October 1, 2007; 293(4): R1671 - R1683.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Arch Intern MedHome page
M. A. Arias, A. M. Sanchez, A. Alonso-Fernandez, and F. Garcia-Rio
Atrial Fibrillation, Obesity, and Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Arch Intern Med, July 23, 2007; 167(14): 1552 - 1553.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
CirculationHome page
A. Jahangir, V. Lee, P. A. Friedman, J. M. Trusty, D. O. Hodge, S. L. Kopecky, D. L. Packer, S. C. Hammill, W.-K. Shen, and B. J. Gersh
Long-Term Progression and Outcomes With Aging in Patients With Lone Atrial Fibrillation: A 30-Year Follow-Up Study
Circulation, June 19, 2007; 115(24): 3050 - 3056.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
ChestHome page
L. F. Drager, L. A. Bortolotto, A. C. Figueiredo, B. C. Silva, E. M. Krieger, and G. Lorenzi-Filho
Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Hypertension, and Their Interaction on Arterial Stiffness and Heart Remodeling
Chest, May 1, 2007; 131(5): 1379 - 1386.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
ChestHome page
V. Patruno, S. Aiolfi, G. Costantino, R. Murgia, C. Selmi, A. Malliani, and N. Montano
Fixed and Autoadjusting Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Treatments Are Not Similar in Reducing Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Chest, May 1, 2007; 131(5): 1393 - 1399.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
HeartHome page
T Tanigawa, K Yamagishi, S Sakurai, I Muraki, H Noda, T Shimamoto, and H Iso
Arterial oxygen desaturation during sleep and atrial fibrillation
Heart, December 1, 2006; 92(12): 1854 - 1855.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
EuropaceHome page
Writing Committee Members, V. Fuster, L. E. Ryden, D. S. Cannom, H. J. Crijns, A. B. Curtis, K. A. Ellenbogen, J. L. Halperin, J.-Y. Le Heuzey, G. N. Kay, et al.
ACC/AHA/ESC 2006 guidelines for the management of patients with atrial fibrillation: full text: A report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on practice guidelines and the European Society of Cardiology Committee for Practice Guidelines (Writing Committee to Revise the 2001 Guidelines for the Management of Patients With Atrial Fibrillation) Developed in collaboration with the European Heart Rhythm Association and the Heart Rhythm Society
Europace, September 1, 2006; 8(9): 651 - 745.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
QJMHome page
S.D.H. Malnick and H. Knobler
The medical complications of obesity
QJM, September 1, 2006; 99(9): 565 - 579.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J Am Coll CardiolHome page
V. Fuster, L. E. Ryden, D. S. Cannom, H. J. Crijns, A. B. Curtis, K. A. Ellenbogen, J. L. Halperin, J.-Y. Le Heuzey, G. N. Kay, J. E. Lowe, et al.
ACC/AHA/ESC 2006 Guidelines for the Management of Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines and the European Society of Cardiology Committee for Practice Guidelines (Writing Committee to Revise the 2001 Guidelines for the Management of Patients With Atrial Fibrillation) Developed in Collaboration With the European Heart Rhythm Association and the Heart Rhythm Society
J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., August 15, 2006; 48(4): e149 - e246.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
CirculationHome page
V. Fuster, L. E. Ryden, D. S. Cannom, H. J. Crijns, A. B. Curtis, K. A. Ellenbogen, J. L. Halperin, J.-Y. Le Heuzey, G. N. Kay, J. E. Lowe, et al.
ACC/AHA/ESC 2006 Guidelines for the Management of Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines and the European Society of Cardiology Committee for Practice Guidelines (Writing Committee to Revise the 2001 Guidelines for the Management of Patients With Atrial Fibrillation): Developed in Collaboration With the European Heart Rhythm Association and the Heart Rhythm Society
Circulation, August 15, 2006; 114(7): e257 - e354.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Eur Heart JHome page
M. A. Arias, A. M. Sanchez, J. M. Lopez, A. Alonso-Fernandez, and F. Garcia-Rio
Clinical outcomes after direct current cardioversion of atrial tachyarrhythmias
Eur. Heart J., July 2, 2006; 27(14): 1755 - 1755.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Eur Heart JHome page
A. A. Elesber, V. Somers, P. A. Friedman, and D. O. Hodge
Clinical outcomes after direct current cardioversion of atrial tachyarrhythmias: reply
Eur. Heart J., July 2, 2006; 27(14): 1755 - 1756.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med.Home page
R. Mehra, E. J. Benjamin, E. Shahar, D. J. Gottlieb, R. Nawabit, H. L. Kirchner, J. Sahadevan, and S. Redline
Association of Nocturnal Arrhythmias with Sleep-disordered Breathing: The Sleep Heart Health Study
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., April 15, 2006; 173(8): 910 - 916.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
NEJMHome page
V. K. Somers
Sleep -- A New Cardiovascular Frontier
N. Engl. J. Med., November 10, 2005; 353(19): 2070 - 2073.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
FocusHome page
S. M. Caples, A. S. Gami, and V. K. Somers
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Focus, October 1, 2005; 3(4): 557 - 567.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
ThoraxHome page
C M Ryan, K Usui, J S Floras, and T D Bradley
Effect of continuous positive airway pressure on ventricular ectopy in heart failure patients with obstructive sleep apnoea
Thorax, September 1, 2005; 60(9): 781 - 785.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
ANN INTERN MEDHome page
J. F. Wilson
Is Sleep the New Vital Sign?
Ann Intern Med, May 17, 2005; 142(10): 877 - 880.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Eur Heart J SupplHome page
B. J. Gersh, T. S.M. Tsang, M. E. Barnes, and J. B. Seward
The changing epidemiology of non-valvular atrial fibrillation: the role of novel risk factors
Eur. Heart J. Suppl., May 1, 2005; 7(suppl_C): C5 - C11.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J Am Coll CardiolHome page
C. Stellbrink, E. Skobel, and A.-M. Sinha
Cardiac resynchronization therapy, central sleep apnea, and Cheyne-Stokes respiration in chronic heart failure patients: Reply
J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., February 15, 2005; 45(4): 633 - 634.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
ThoraxHome page
R Schulz, H J Eisele, and W Seeger
Nocturnal atrial fibrillation in a patient with obstructive sleep apnoea
Thorax, February 1, 2005; 60(2): 174 - 174.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
ANN INTERN MEDHome page
S. M. Caples, A. S. Gami, and V. K. Somers
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Ann Intern Med, February 1, 2005; 142(3): 187 - 197.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
ChestHome page
R. W. Peters
Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Cardiovascular Disease
Chest, January 1, 2005; 127(1): 1 - 3.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
JAMAHome page
J. Coromilas
Obesity and Atrial Fibrillation: Is One Epidemic Feeding the Other?
JAMA, November 24, 2004; 292(20): 2519 - 2520.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Journal Watch CardiologyHome page
Sleep Apnea in Afib Patients
Journal Watch Cardiology, October 1, 2004; 2004(1001): 4 - 4.
[Full Text]