Effectiveness of short-term treatment with nocturnal oxygen therapy for central sleep apnea in patients with congestive heart failure.

Abstract

Nocturnal oxygen therapy improved the number of sleep apnea episodes and decreased total heart rate during sleep time for the CHF patients with central SAS, despite little influence on the autonomic nervous system, based upon assessment of heart rate variability. Obstructive SAS might exacerbate the episodes of sleep apnea.