Sleep-Disordered Breathing in a Group of Heart Transplantation Candidates

Background and Objective: Sleep-Disordered Breathing (SDB) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in patients with heart failure (HF). We assessed the prevalence and the pattern of SDB in HF patients who were candidates for heart transplantation. Materials and Methods: Twenty heart transplantation patients with ventricular ejection-fraction 25% were recruited consecutively in a cross-sectional study in Iran during 2009-2010. Full-night polysomnography was performed for them. Results: The participants consisted of 14 males and 6 females with the mean ± SD age of 45.6 ±13.3 and the mean ± SD Body Mass Index (BMI) of 24.1±5.5. Seventeen patients (85%) were diagnosed with sleep breathing disorder, among which, four had central sleep apnea. Conclusions: Sleep apnea is prevalent in heart transplantation candidates.