Obstructive Sleep Apnoea and Cardiac Arrhythmias and the Impact of an Implantable Loop Recorder
Overview
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea
- Sponsor
- University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust
- Enrollment
- 200
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Incidence of arrhythmia
- Status
- Active, not recruiting
- Last Updated
- last year
Overview
Brief Summary
This study is a prevelance trial looking at how sleep apnoea affects the heart especially heart rhythms.
Previous research shows that patients suffering from sleep apnoea are much more likely to get heart disease and abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias). These defects are sometimes missed by the traditional methods of monitoring i.e. 24-hour Holter monitor and ECGs. This means potentially dangerous arrhythmias may not be detected. Additionally, standard therapy for sleep apnoea does not significantly reduce the risk of heart disease.
This study will recruit 200 participants over a period of 18 months. The research team will observe the heart rhythms of sleep apnoea patients by inserting an implantable loop recorder (ILR) in up to 100 participants. The other 100 patients will simply have standard care. This device will monitor the heart continuously for 3 years allowing us to detect abnormal heart rhythms and treat as necessary.
Demonstrating the incidence of arrhythmia can lead onto a larger study which may change future sleep apnoea management improving their cardiovascular outcomes. Other markers of heart disease such as; blood tests, Magnetocardiography and Echocardiography will be performed on participants to shed more light on the mechanisms which link sleep apnoea and heart disease/arrhythmia.
Detailed Description
Sleep apnoea affects up to 1.5 million adults in the United Kingdom (UK). This puts this population at risk of reduced oxygen levels during sleep, poor sleep and increased breathing effort . All of the above put stress on the body and are proven to increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart failure and vascular problems. This can lead to strokes, heart disease and death. Sleep apnoea patients are at much higher risk of abnormal heart rhythms. Even with continuous positive airways pressure (CPAP) treatment (which is the mainstay in sleep apnoea and does help to reduce arrhythmias) patients are still at higher risk of heart disease and stroke. An implantable loop recorder (Reveal-LINQ) inserted into sleep apnoea patients will be able to continuously monitor a patient's heart rhythm. This will determine the incidence of arrhythmia in sleep apnoea patients. Any significant abnormalities in either arm of the study will be treated as per National Health Service guidelines and best care. The cost associated with this method of intervention will also be considered. If there is a high prevalence of arrhythmia a future larger trial, involving much larger numbers and multiple centres, could be conducted to demonstrate reduced risk of stroke or heart attack using this method of arrhythmia detection and management. Cardiovascular biomarkers, cardiac function, autonomic function and magnetocardiography in these patients could shed light on the mechanisms which cause increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
Investigators
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •Patients with moderate to severe sleep apnoea who require CPAP as standard care (AHI \>15)
- •Patients between the age of 18 and 75
Exclusion Criteria
- •Patients with a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation (AF), atrial flutter and/or ventricular tachycardia (VT)
- •Patients with an ILR already in-situ or an established indication for ILR
- •Patients with a palliative diagnosis i.e. life expectancy less than 3 years
- •Patients who lack capacity
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Incidence of arrhythmia
Time Frame: 3 years
Incidence of arrhythmia in sleep apnoea patients as recorded by ILR vs a no ILR group
Autonomic function before and after CPAP
Time Frame: 3 years
Assess the changes to the heart in sleep apnoea patients before and after CPAP in terms of heart rate variability as measured on 24 hour holter monitors. The raw data is taken from the monitor and then analysed manually. The first data set will be from baseline studies which will be compared to studies done at the 1 year follow-up.
Secondary Outcomes
- Rate of Cardiovascular Mortality(3 years)
- Rate of Cardiovascular Morbidity(3 years)
- Onset and frequency of atrial fibrillation(3 years)
- Quality of life: EQ-5D-5L questionnaire(3 years)
- Cardiovascular biomarkers before and after CPAP(3 years)
- Echocardiography before and after CPAP(3 years)