Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), a well-known cardiovascular risk factor, may be far more prevalent in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) than previously recognized. In a prospective cohort study of 154 patients with HCM undergoing polysomnography, 59% were found to have undiagnosed SDB. These patients demonstrated significantly higher left ventricular mass, greater diastolic dysfunction, elevated baseline troponin-T levels, and more frequent NYHA class II/III symptoms, indicating ongoing subclinical myocardial injury. The findings suggest that SDB may be a key contributor to disease progression and symptom burden in HCM, underscoring the urgent need for randomized trials evaluating whether treating SDB could alter clinical outcomes.
Are you routinely screening your HCM patients for sleep apnea? Or leaving a major risk factor unchecked? [Read the full study here] In your practice,…
