Sleep-Disordered Breathing in Heart Failure - The SchlaHF-Registry

Objective target of the registry is to investigate the prevalence of SDB as well as the clinical characteristics of patients with and without SDB as well as the predominant type of sdb.

For this purpose data from patients suffering from chronic, symptomatic heart failure with impaired left ventricular ejection fraction will be collected prospectively.

Despite recent advances in pharmacological treatment, congestive heart failure (CHF) continues to cause debilitating symptoms, frequent hospital admissions and a high mortality. Despite of therapy with beta-blockers and ACE-inhibitors many patients have persistent symptoms and most will eventually die of cardiovascular causes, often from progressive heart failure.

Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB) is known to cause consequences, which have negative effects on heart failure.

Objective target of the registry is to investigate the prevalence of SDB, clinical characteristics, symptoms and the degree and type of SDB in patients with chronic HF.

For this purpose data from patients with chronic heart failure will be collected prospectively.In the registry several cardiologists in private practice or hospital and cooperating sleep laboratories shall participate.

Cardiologists screen patients with Chronic Heart Failure (chronic HF) prospectively. In case of suffering from chronic HF for at least 12 weeks since diagnosis, with NYHA III-IV or NYHA class II with at least one hospitalisation for HF in the last 12 months. Written informed consent for data privacy aspects must be obtained before screening for SDB. Patients who satisfy to all inclusion- and exclusion criteria will be included consecutively into the registry.

Adult patients with Chronic Heart Failure with LVEF ≤ 45% and NYHA III-IV or NYHA class II with at least one hospitalisation for HF in the last 24 months.

• Congestive Heart Failure
• Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients must be over 18
• Chronic heart failure (at least 12 weeks since diagnosis) according to the current applicable guidelines
• Left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVEF ≤ 45% by imaging method such as echocardiography, radionuclide angiography, left ventriculography, or cardiac magnetic resonance imaging) documented less than 12 weeks
• NYHA class III or IV at the time of inclusion or NYHA class II with at least one hospitalisation for HF in the last 24 months
• Patient is able to fully understand study information and signed informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Life expectancy < 1 year for diseases unrelated to chronic HF
• Cardiac surgery, Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), Myocardial Infarction (MI) or unstable angina within 6 months
• CRT-implantation (either CRT-D or CRT-P) scheduled or within 6 months
• Transient ischemic attack (TIA) or Stroke within 3 months
• Hemodynamically significant uncorrected primary valvular heart disease, obstructive or regurgitant, or any valvular disease expected to lead to surgery
• Acute myocarditis/pericarditis within 6 months
• Current CPAP or bilevel therapy