Association between hypoxemia and quality of life in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and sleep-disordered breathing

Sleep-disordered breathing is common among patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), and might impact their quality of life due to nighttime hypoxemia and awakenings. However, the factors contributing to deterioration in quality of life remain unclear. This study investigated the factors associated with quality of life deterioration in patients with HFpEF and sleep-disordered breathing. This prospective cross-sectional study included inpatients with HFpEF (left ventricular ejection fraction of >= 50%). Sleep-disordered breathing and quality of life were evaluated using polysomnography and the Short Form-8 Health Survey, respectively. The patients were grouped based on thei median physical and mental component summary Short Form-8 Health Survey scores. Among the 31 patients with HFpEF (aged 73.7 +/- 10.9 years; 67.7% women; left ventricular ejection fraction, 65.3% +/- 8.1%), the median apnea-hypopnea index was 11.5 per hour. Although no differences in parameters related to sleep-disordered breathing were found among the physical component summary-stratified groups, the low mental component summary group exhibited significantly lower nadir oxygen saturation than those exhibited by the high mental component summary group (84.3 +/- 5.7% vs. 88.5 +/- 3.9%; p = 0.02); this difference remained significant even when adjusted for potential confounders (beta = 0.43; p = 0.02). Nocturnal hypoxemia may be a contributing factor to the decline in the mental health aspect of quality of life in patients with HFpEF. Thus, clinicians should consider hypoxemia when managing HFpEF and sleep-disordered breathing.