Leptin deficiency promotes central sleep apnea in patients with heart failure

Ivan Cundrle, Virend K. Somers, Prachi Singh, Bruce D. Johnson, Christopher G. Scott, Christelle Van Der Walt, Lyle J. Olson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Leptin-deficient animals hyperventilate. Leptin expression by adipocytes is attenuated by atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP). Increased circulating natriuretic peptides (NPs) are associated with an increased risk of central sleep apnea (CSA). This study tested whether serum leptin concentration is inversely correlated to NP concentration and decreased in patients with heart failure (HF) and CSA. Methods: Subjects with HF (N = 29) were studied by measuring leptin, NPs, CO2 chemosensitivity (Δminute ventilation [VE]/Δpartial pressure of end-tidal CO2 [PETCO 2]), and ventilatory efficiency (VE/CO2 output [VCO 2]) and were classified as CSA or no sleep-disordered breathing by polysomnography. CSA was defined as a central apnea-hypopnea index ≥15. The Student t test, Mann- Whitney U test, and logistic regression were used for analysis, and data were summarized as mean ± SD; P < .05 was considered significant. Results: Subjects with CSA had higher ANP and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) concentrations (P < .05), ΔVE/ ΔPETCO2 (2.39 ± 1.03 L/min/mm Hg vs 1.54 ± 0.35 L/min/mm Hg, P = .01), and VE/VCO2 (43 ± 9 vs 34 ± 7, P < .01) and lower leptin concentrations (8 ± 10.7 ng/mL vs 17.1 ± 8.8 ng/mL, P < .01). Logistic regression analysis (adjusted for age, sex, and BMI) demonstrated leptin (OR = 0.07; 95% CI, 0.01-0.71; P = .04) and BNP (OR = 4.45; 95% CI, 1.1-17.9; P = .05) to be independently associated with CSA. Conclusions: In patients with HF and CSA, leptin concentration is low and is inversely related to NP concentration. Counterregulatory interactions of leptin and NP may be important in ventilatory control in HF.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)72-78
Number of pages7
JournalChest
Volume145
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2014

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
  • Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine
  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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