Determination of left ventricular diastolic function among adult Filipino patients with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea using tissue doppler imaging

Background: Heart failure is a major public health problem and it is estimated that half of patients with this condition have preserved left ventricular (LV) systolic function and abnormal diastolic function. Observational studies have linked Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) with diastolic impairment of the LV.

Objective: This paper aims to determine the LV diastolic function (LVDD) of adult Filipino patients with moderate to severe OSA and no known cardiac co-morbidity using Tissue Doppler Imaging.

Methods: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study where in specified parameters and echocardiographic records of patients without known cardiac co-morbidity who underwent polysomnography at the Comprehensive Sleep Disorders Center, from 2009-2014, were collected.

Results: There were a total of 107 subjects, 94 (88%) was diagnosed with OSA while 13 (12%) was negative for OSA based on polysomnography. LVDD was present in 23% of the study population and was noted in 27% of the subjects with moderate to severe OSA. Analysis supported the association between severe OSA and LV diastolic dysfunction (p-value 0.007).

Conclusion: The presence of OSA among adult Filipino patients without known cardiac co-morbid condition is associated with the diagnosis of LVDD.