Reference:
Thomas RJ, Mietus JE, Peng CK, Gilmarin G, Daly RW, Goldberger AL, Gottlie DJ. Differentiating obstructive from central and complex sleep apnea using an automated electrocardiogram-base method. Sleep 2007; 30(12):1756-59
Objectives:
Complex sleep apnea is defined as sleep disordered breathing secondary to simultaneous upper airway obstruction and respiratory control dysfunction. The objective of this study was to assess the utility of an electrocardiogram (ECG) based CPC technique to distinguish obstructive from central or complex sleep apnea.
Conclusions:
ECG based spectral analysis allows automated, operator-independent characterization of probable interactions between impaired respiration and upper airway anatomical obstruction. The clinical utility of spectrographic classification, especially in predicting failure of positive airway pressure therapy, remains to be more thoroughly tested.
Practical Significance:
CPC is accurate in differentiating obstructive vs. central vs. complex sleep apnea. Additional clinical utility is of the spectrographic phenotyping of periodic breathing episodes may hold promise in predicting failure of conventional positive airway pressure titration.
