Left Ventricular Structural Adaptations to Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Abstract

In patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy, the presence of obstructive sleep apnea is associated with an increased prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy. The higher relative wall thickness and interventricular septal thickness in patients with obstructive sleep apnea indicate that the left ventricle is relatively less eccentric than in patients without obstructive sleep apnea, and that such remodeling affects mainly the septum. These structural adaptations may reflect unique nocturnal mechanical and adrenergic stimuli associated with obstructive sleep apnea.