OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNOEA SYNDROME AND CLINICAL STATUS OF PATIENTS WITH ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION AND PREEXISTING STABLE ANGINA

Aim. To investigate the effects of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) on clinical and functional status of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI); to assess the association between pre-existing stable angina and AMI clinical course in the first 3 months. Material and methods. The study included 68 AMI patients; in 38 participants, OSA was diagnosed based on the electrocardiography and breathing monitoring results. All patients underwent echocardiography and veloergometry. Results. In OSA patients, AMI risk was higher among young individuals with preexisting diabetes mellitus and arterial hypertension. OSA severity was maximal during the acute phase of AMI. Clinical course of AMI in OSA patients was characterised by disturbed cardiac hemodynamics and progressing myocardial ischemia; during the follow-up period, significant improvement was observed only for the latter. Preexisting stable angina partly counterbalanced negative effects of OSA, being linked to a 1,9-fold reduction in the number of ischemic episodes, and a 2,2-fold decrease in total ischemia duration over 24 hours. Conclusion. The results obtained should be taken into consideration while treating AMI and preventing its complications.