Impact of Obstructive Sleep Apnea on Outcomes of Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation

Citation : Jane Dewire and Hugh Calkins

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a growing epidemic in the United States and significantly contributes to the increasing prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in the U.S. population. Although a strong correlation between OSA and AF has been demonstrated, a causal relationship between these two conditions has not been definitively established. Evidence of OSA is an important consideration of AF management and impacts the success rate of catheter ablation. The presence of OSA tends to predict a lower success rate and higher complication rate for catheter ablation of AF. However, recent studies evaluating OSA as an independent risk predictor of AF recurrence following an ablation procedure have yielded conflicting results. A greater understanding of these conditions would allow for a more specific therapy targeting the type of AF associated with OSA. The following review provides a brief summary of obstructive sleep apnea etiology, focuses on the relationship between OSA and AF, and discusses the impact of OSA on the outcomes of catheter ablation of AF.