Analysis of Interaction of Acute Atrial Overdrive Pacing with Sleep-Related Breathing Disorder†

Dose-related effects of atrial overdrive pacing (AOP) on sleep-related breathing disorder (SRBD) were studied. Fourteen patients with pacemakers with moderate to severe SRBD (mean screening apnea-hypopnea index [AHI] 35.2 ± 21.9 events/hour) were randomized to 3 levels of pacing (50, 10, and 20 beats/min greater than the mean nocturnal heart rate) and studied by polysomnography, observing for changes in AHI. At the 2 AOP levels, no significant change was observed in the primary end point of reduction in AHI. Additionally, there was no observed impact on secondary end points of the study. Cyclic variation of heart rate was progressively abolished with higher levels of AOP without affecting AHI. Large variations were observed between the screening and control studies in SRBD indexes in a number of patients. In conclusion, AOP demonstrated no benefit to predominantly obstructive SRBD disorder of at least moderate severity.