The clinical utility of echocardiography in identifying patients with heart failure at a single academic sleep center

Abstract Introduction Heart failure and sleep disordered breathing are prevalent in the United States and often co-exist; diagnostic strategy and management for sleep disordered breathing may change based on the presence, absence and type of heart failure. The goal of this study was to evaluate how many additional patients would be identified with either heart failure with reduced (HFrEF) or preserved (HFpEF) ejection fraction through existing echocardiogram results when this diagnosis is not explicitly stated in the medical records for patients evaluated at a single academic sleep center. Methods A retrospective chart review was performed for all patients undergoing for a sleep study and/or a PAP device from February 2012 through September 2019 at the University of Arizona. Sleep disordered breathing was identified through either polysomnography (PSG) or home sleep apnea testing (HSAT). Patients were identified with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction if an echocardiogram (TTE) listed ejection fraction Results 2,817 patients were evaluated (age 57 (±16 years), 53% male and 77% Caucasian). Ninety-nine patients (3.51%) were noted to have HFrEF based on past medical history and an additional 38 patients were identified through TTE. One hundred and fifteen patients (4.08%) were noted to have HFpEF based on past medical history and an additional 265 patients were identified through TTE. Among these, a majority had OSA (77% HFrEF and 83% HFpEF), followed by combined OSA and CSA (7% HFrEF and 5% HFpEF), and primary CSA (5% HFrEF and 3% HFpEF). Of the patients identified after having reviewed TTE results, 6 (16%) with HFrEF and 42 (16%) with HFpEF developed treatment emergent central sleep apnea. Conclusion Existing echocardiography data in the electronic medical record can identify additional patients with HFrEF and HFpEF which may impact clinical diagnosis and management of sleep disordered breathing. Support (if any) AASM Foundation (203-JF-18), NIH (HL126140, 2L30HL154400-023), University of Arizona (5299903; 5833261; 4258021)