Donate Help Contact The AHA Sign In Home
American Heart Association
Circulation
Search: search_blue_button Advanced Search
Circulation. 1997;96:246-252

This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Mortara, A.
Right arrow Articles by Tavazzi, L.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Mortara, A.
Right arrow Articles by Tavazzi, L.
Right arrowPubmed/NCBI databases
*Compound via MeSH
*Substance via MeSH
Medline Plus Health Information
*Cardiomyopathy
Hazardous Substances DB
*OXYGEN

(Circulation. 1997;96:246-252.)
© 1997 American Heart Association, Inc.


Articles

Abnormal Awake Respiratory Patterns Are Common in Chronic Heart Failure and May Prevent Evaluation of Autonomic Tone by Measures of Heart Rate Variability

Andrea Mortara, MD; Peter Sleight, MD; Gian Domenico Pinna, MS; Roberto Maestri, MS; Alexander Prpa, MD; Maria Teresa La Rovere, MD; Franco Cobelli, MD; ; Luigi Tavazzi, MD

From the Division of Cardiology, Centro Medico di Montescano, "S. Maugeri" Foundation, IRCCS, Pavia, Italy, and Department of Cardiovascular Medicine (P.S.), John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford, UK.

Correspondence to Andrea Mortara, Division of Cardiology, Centro Medico di Montescano, "S. Maugeri" Foundation, IRCCS, Montescano, Pavia, Italy.

Background Reduced heart rate variability, particularly in the very-low-frequency (VLF) spectral band, has been found to be a marker for poor prognosis in patients after myocardial infarction, but the origin of the VLF oscillations is unclear. In this study, we demonstrate that the power of cardiovascular oscillations in the VLF band in awake patients with mild to severe chronic heart failure is greatly increased by the common occurrence of unrecognized irregularity of breathing, which may confound the use of heart rate variability measures as indexes of autonomic tone or prognosis.

Methods and Results Among 110 consecutive patients referred for consideration of transplantation, 90 were in sinus rhythm, of whom 10 were excluded as unstable. The remaining 80 patients underwent recordings of ECG, beat-to-beat arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2), and respiration during both spontaneous and controlled breathing. During spontaneous awake breathing, 64% showed periodic breathing or Cheyne-Stokes respiration (CSR), which was associated with dominant power in the VLF band of all signals. This VLF power accounted for 55%, 77%, and 87% of heart rate variability, respectively, in patients with normal breathing, periodic breathing, and CSR. It was reduced by 48% and 62%, respectively, during controlled breathing in patients with periodic breathing or CSR. Controlled ventilation also improved oxygen saturation and markedly reduced its variability.

Conclusions Breathing disorders are surprisingly common in awake patients with poor left ventricular function and produce large VLF oscillations in heart rate variability. If measures of heart rate variability are used for prognostic purposes during both short-term and long-term recordings, the confounding effects of variable respiratory patterns should be excluded. Respiratory rehabilitation might help control potentially hazardous surges in sympathetic tone.


Key Words: respiration • heart rate • heart failure • nervous system, autonomic




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
Circ Heart FailHome page
R. Baruah, C. H. Manisty, A. Giannoni, K. Willson, Y. Mebrate, A. J. Baksi, B. Unsworth, N. Hadjiloizou, R. Sutton, J. Mayet, et al.
Novel Use of Cardiac Pacemakers in Heart Failure to Dynamically Manipulate the Respiratory System Through Algorithmic Changes in Cardiac Output
Circ Heart Fail, May 1, 2009; 2(3): 166 - 174.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Eur Respir JHome page
J. Jaye, M. Chatwin, M. Dayer, M. J. Morrell, and A. K. Simonds
Autotitrating versus standard noninvasive ventilation: a randomised crossover trial
Eur. Respir. J., March 1, 2009; 33(3): 566 - 571.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Circ Heart FailHome page
G. Parati, G. Malfatto, S. Boarin, G. Branzi, G. Caldara, A. Giglio, G. Bilo, G. Ongaro, A. Alter, B. Gavish, et al.
Device-Guided Paced Breathing in the Home Setting: Effects on Exercise Capacity, Pulmonary and Ventricular Function in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure: A Pilot Study
Circ Heart Fail, September 1, 2008; 1(3): 178 - 183.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
ChestHome page
L. J. Olson, A. M. Arruda-Olson, V. K. Somers, C. G. Scott, and B. D. Johnson
Exercise Oscillatory Ventilation*: Instability of Breathing Control Associated With Advanced Heart Failure
Chest, February 1, 2008; 133(2): 474 - 481.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
ChestHome page
T. Brack, I. Thuer, C. F. Clarenbach, O. Senn, G. Noll, E. W. Russi, and K. E. Bloch
Daytime Cheyne-Stokes Respiration in Ambulatory Patients With Severe Congestive Heart Failure Is Associated With Increased Mortality
Chest, November 1, 2007; 132(5): 1463 - 1471.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Eur J Heart FailHome page
M. T. La Rovere, G. D. Pinna, R. Maestri, E. Robbi, A. Mortara, F. Fanfulla, O. Febo, and P. Sleight
Clinical relevance of short-term day-time breathing disorders in chronic heart failure patients
Eur J Heart Fail, September 1, 2007; 9(9): 949 - 954.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Eur J Heart FailHome page
P. K. Stein, L. Tereshchenko, P. P. Domitrovich, R. E. Kleiger, A. Perez, and P. Deedwania
Diastolic dysfunction and autonomic abnormalities in patients with systolic heart failure
Eur J Heart Fail, April 1, 2007; 9(4): 364 - 369.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Eur J Heart FailHome page
G. Piccirillo, D. Magri, S. di Carlo, T. De Laurentis, A. Torrini, S. Matera, M. Magnanti, L. Bernardi, F. Barilla, R. Quaglione, et al.
Influence of cardiac-resynchronization therapy on heart rate and blood pressure variability: 1-year follow-up
Eur J Heart Fail, November 1, 2006; 8(7): 716 - 722.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J Am Coll CardiolHome page
A. Radaelli, M. Cazzaniga, A. Viola, G. Balestri, M. B. Janetti, M. G. Signorini, P. Castiglioni, A. Azzellino, G. Mancia, and A. U. Ferrari
Enhanced Baroreceptor Control of the Cardiovascular System by Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Heart Failure Patients
J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., October 17, 2006; 48(8): 1600 - 1606.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Eur Respir JHome page
A. Vazir, M. Dayer, P. C. Hastings, H. F. McIntyre, M. Y. Henein, P. A. Poole-Wilson, M. R. Cowie, M. J. Morrell, and A. K. Simonds
Can heart rate variation rule out sleep-disordered breathing in heart failure?
Eur. Respir. J., March 1, 2006; 27(3): 571 - 577.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J Am Coll CardiolHome page
G. D. Pinna, R. Maestri, S. Capomolla, O. Febo, E. Robbi, F. Cobelli, and M. T. La Rovere
Applicability and Clinical Relevance of the Transfer Function Method in the Assessment of Baroreflex Sensitivity in Heart Failure Patients
J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., October 4, 2005; 46(7): 1314 - 1321.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Eur Heart JHome page
S. Guzzetti, M. T. L. Rovere, G. D. Pinna, R. Maestri, E. Borroni, A. Porta, A. Mortara, and A. Malliani
Different spectral components of 24 h heart rate variability are related to different modes of death in chronic heart failure
Eur. Heart J., February 2, 2005; 26(4): 357 - 362.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Eur Heart J SupplHome page
A. Mortara, G. D. Pinna, P. Johnson, H. Dargie, M. T. La Rovere, P. Ponikowski, L. Tavazzi, P. Sleight, and on behalf of HHH Investigators
A multi-country randomised trial of the role of a new telemonitoring system in CHF: the HHH study (Home or Hospital in Heart Failure). Rational, study design and protocol
Eur. Heart J. Suppl., November 1, 2004; 6(suppl_F): F99 - F102.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Eur J Heart FailHome page
L. Fauchier, D. Babuty, A. Melin, P. Bonnet, P. Cosnay, and J. P. Fauchier
Heart rate variability in severe right or left heart failure: the role of pulmonary hypertension and resistances
Eur J Heart Fail, March 1, 2004; 6(2): 181 - 185.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med.Home page
R. S. T. Leung, J. S. Floras, G. Lorenzi-Filho, F. Rankin, P. Picton, and T. D. Bradley
Influence of Cheyne-Stokes Respiration on Cardiovascular Oscillations in Heart Failure
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., June 1, 2003; 167(11): 1534 - 1539.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
HypertensionHome page
G. Piccirillo, M. Nocco, A. Moise, M. Lionetti, C. Naso, S. di Carlo, and V. Marigliano
Influence of Vitamin C on Baroreflex Sensitivity in Chronic Heart Failure
Hypertension, June 1, 2003; 41(6): 1240 - 1245.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
CirculationHome page
T. D. Bradley and J. S. Floras
Sleep Apnea and Heart Failure: Part II: Central Sleep Apnea
Circulation, April 8, 2003; 107(13): 1822 - 1826.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
ChestHome page
D. R. Murray
What Is "Heart Rate Variability" and Is It Blunted by Tumor Necrosis Factor?
Chest, March 1, 2003; 123(3): 664 - 667.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
CirculationHome page
M. T. La Rovere, G. D. Pinna, R. Maestri, A. Mortara, S. Capomolla, O. Febo, R. Ferrari, M. Franchini, M. Gnemmi, C. Opasich, et al.
Short-Term Heart Rate Variability Strongly Predicts Sudden Cardiac Death in Chronic Heart Failure Patients
Circulation, February 4, 2003; 107(4): 565 - 570.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J Am Coll CardiolHome page
T. Yamada, T. Shimonagata, M. Fukunami, K. Kumagai, H. Ogita, A. Hirata, M. Asai, N. Makino, H. Kioka, H. Kusuoka, et al.
Comparison of the prognostic value of cardiac iodine-123 metaiodobenzylguanidine imaging and heart rate variability in patients with chronic heart failure: A prospective study
J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., January 15, 2003; 41(2): 231 - 238.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Physiol.Home page
D. P Francis, K. Willson, P. Georgiadou, R. Wensel, L C. Davies, A. Coats, and M. Piepoli
Physiological basis of fractal complexity properties of heart rate variability in man
J. Physiol., July 15, 2002; 542(2): 619 - 629.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
ThoraxHome page
T Kohnlein, T Welte, L B Tan, and M W Elliott
Central sleep apnoea syndrome in patients with chronic heart disease: a critical review of the current literature
Thorax, June 1, 2002; 57(6): 547 - 554.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
ChestHome page
U. Corra, A. Giordano, E. Bosimini, A. Mezzani, M. Piepoli, A. J. S. Coats, and P. Giannuzzi
Oscillatory Ventilation During Exercise in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure* : Clinical Correlates and Prognostic Implications
Chest, May 1, 2002; 121(5): 1572 - 1580.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med.Home page
H. Nakayama, C. A. Smith, J. R. Rodman, J. B. Skatrud, and J. A. Dempsey
Effect of Ventilatory Drive on Carbon Dioxide Sensitivity below Eupnea during Sleep
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., May 1, 2002; 165(9): 1251 - 1260.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Eur J Heart FailHome page
G. Malfatto, G. Branzi, B. Riva, L. Sala, G. Leonetti, and M. Facchini
Recovery of cardiac autonomic responsiveness with low-intensity physical training in patients with chronic heart failure
Eur J Heart Fail, March 1, 2002; 4(2): 159 - 166.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med.Home page
R. S. T. LEUNG and T. DOUGLAS BRADLEY
Sleep Apnea and Cardiovascular Disease
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., December 15, 2001; 164(12): 2147 - 2165.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J Am Coll CardiolHome page
S. Miyamoto, M. Fujita, H. Sekiguchi, Y. Okano, N. Nagaya, K. Ueda, S.-i. Tamaki, R. Nohara, S. Eiho, and S. Sasayama
Effects of posture on cardiac autonomic nervous activity in patients with congestive heart failure
J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., June 1, 2001; 37(7): 1788 - 1793.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Eur J Heart FailHome page
G. Malfatto, G. Branzi, S. Gritti, L. Sala, R. Bragato, G. B. Perego, G. Leonetti, and M. Facchini
Different baseline sympathovagal balance and cardiac autonomic responsiveness in ischemic and non-ischemic congestive heart failure
Eur J Heart Fail, March 1, 2001; 3(2): 197 - 202.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
EuropaceHome page
C. F. Notarius and J. S. Floras
Limitations of the use of spectral analysis of heart rate variability for the estimation of cardiac sympathetic activity in heart failure
Europace, January 1, 2001; 3(1): 29 - 38.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol.Home page
M. El-Omar, A. Kardos, and B. Casadei
Mechanisms of respiratory sinus arrhythmia in patients with mild heart failure
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, January 1, 2001; 280(1): H125 - H131.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Appl. Physiol.Home page
G. D. Pinna, R. Maestri, A. Mortara, M. T. L. Rovere, F. Fanfulla, and P. Sleight
Periodic breathing in heart failure patients: testing the hypothesis of instability of the chemoreflex loop
J Appl Physiol, December 1, 2000; 89(6): 2147 - 2157.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med.Home page
J. TRINDER, R. MERSON, J. I. ROSENBERG, F. FITZGERALD, J. KLEIMAN, and T. DOUGLAS BRADLEY
Pathophysiological Interactions of Ventilation, Arousals, and Blood Pressure Oscillations during Cheyne-Stokes Respiration in Patients with Heart Failure
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., September 1, 2000; 162(3): 808 - 813.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


Home page
Eur Heart JHome page
M Galinier, A Pathak, J Fourcade, C Androdias, D Curnier, S Varnous, S Boveda, P Massabuau, M Fauvel, J.M Senard, et al.
Depressed low frequency power of heart rate variability as an independent predictor of sudden death in chronic heart failure
Eur. Heart J., March 2, 2000; 21(6): 475 - 482.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol.Home page
G. D. Pinna, R. Maestri, A. Mortara, and M. T. L. Rovere
Cardiorespiratory interactions during periodic breathing in awake chronic heart failure patients
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, March 1, 2000; 278(3): H932 - H941.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
CirculationHome page
P. Ponikowski, S. D. Anker, T. P. Chua, D. Francis, W. Banasiak, P. A. Poole-Wilson, A. J. S. Coats, and M. Piepoli
Oscillatory Breathing Patterns During Wakefulness in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure : Clinical Implications and Role of Augmented Peripheral Chemosensitivity
Circulation, December 14, 1999; 100(24): 2418 - 2424.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J Am Coll CardiolHome page
L. Fauchier and D. Babuty
Reply
J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., December 1, 1999; 34(7): 2148 - 2149.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
CirculationHome page
D. P. Francis, L. C. Davies, M. Piepoli, M. Rauchhaus, P. Ponikowski, and A. J. S. Coats
Origin of Oscillatory Kinetics of Respiratory Gas Exchange in Chronic Heart Failure
Circulation, September 7, 1999; 100(10): 1065 - 1070.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med.Home page
G. LORENZI-FILHO, F. RANKIN, I. BIES, and T. D. BRADLEY
Effects of Inhaled Carbon Dioxide and Oxygen on Cheyne-Stokes Respiration in Patients with Heart Failure
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., May 1, 1999; 159(5): 1490 - 1498.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J Am Coll CardiolHome page
L. Fauchier, D. Babuty, P. Cosnay, and J. P. Fauchier
Prognostic value of heart rate variability for sudden death and major arrhythmic events in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy
J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., April 1, 1999; 33(5): 1203 - 1207.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med.Home page
G. LORENZI-FILHO, H. R. DAJANI, R. S. T. LEUNG, J. S. FLORAS, and T. D. BRADLEY
Entrainment of Blood Pressure and Heart Rate Oscillations by Periodic Breathing
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., April 1, 1999; 159(4): 1147 - 1154.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
CirculationHome page
J. Nolan, P. D. Batin, R. Andrews, S. J. Lindsay, P. Brooksby, M. Mullen, W. Baig, A. D. Flapan, A. Cowley, R. J. Prescott, et al.
Prospective Study of Heart Rate Variability and Mortality in Chronic Heart Failure : Results of the United Kingdom Heart Failure Evaluation and Assessment of Risk Trial (UK-Heart)
Circulation, October 13, 1998; 98(15): 1510 - 1516.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
CirculationHome page
K. Narkiewicz, N. Montano, C. Cogliati, P. J. H. van de Borne, M. E. Dyken, and V. K. Somers
Altered Cardiovascular Variability in Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Circulation, September 15, 1998; 98(11): 1071 - 1077.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
HeartHome page
F LOMBARDI and A MORTARA
Heart rate variability and cardiac failure
Heart, September 1, 1998; 80(3): 213 - 214.
[Full Text]


Home page
CirculationHome page
E. H. Friedman
Respiratory Patterns and Chronic Heart Failure
Circulation, July 28, 1998; 98(4): 377 - 377.
[Full Text] [PDF]