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Risk factors

By Mayo Clinic staff

Certain factors put you at increased risk of central sleep apnea:

  • Being male. Males are more likely to develop central sleep apnea than are females.
  • Heart disorders. People with atrial fibrillation or congestive heart failure are more at risk of central sleep apnea. Central sleep apnea may be present in between 30 and 40 percent of people with congestive heart failure.
  • Stroke or brain tumor. These conditions can impair the brain's ability to regulate breathing.
  • High altitude. Sleeping at an altitude higher than you're accustomed to may increase your risk of sleep apnea. Altitudes above 15,000 feet (4,572 meters) can temporarily cause the condition in most people. High altitude sleep apnea is no longer a problem when you return to a lower altitude.
  • Taking opioids. Opioids, such as morphine, oxycodone and codeine, increase the risk of central sleep apnea.
Complications Causes

  • See Also

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References
  1. Badr MS. Central sleep apnea syndrome: Risk factors, clinical presentation, and diagnosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 17, 2009.
  2. Douglas NJ. Sleep apnea. In: Fauci AS, et al. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 17th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2869549. Accessed April 17, 2009.
  3. Central sleep apnea. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/print/sec05/ch061/ch061d.html. Accessed April 17, 2009.
  4. Eckert, DJ. Central sleep apnea: Pathophysiology and treatment. Chest. 2007;131:595.
  5. Ropper AH, et al. Sleep and its abnormalities. In: Ropper AH, et al. Adams and Victor's Principles of Neurology. 9th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2009. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=3633173. Accessed April 17, 2009.
  6. Weil JV. Sleep at high altitude. High Altitude Medicine and Biology. 2004;5:180.
  7. Eckert DJ, et al. Mechanisms of apnea. Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases. 2009;51:313.
  8. Leung RST. Sleep-disordered breathing: Autonomic mechanisms and arrhythmias. Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases. 2009;51:324.
  9. Badr MS. Central sleep apnea syndrome: Treatment. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 17, 2009.
  10. Randerrath WJ. Combined adaptive servo-ventilation and automatic positive airway pressure (anticyclic modulated ventilation) in co-existing obstructive and central sleep apnea syndrome and periodic breathing. Sleep Medicine. 2009. In press. Accessed April 17, 2009.
  11. Hastings PC. Adaptive servo-ventilation in heart failure patients with sleep apnea: A real world study. International Journal of Cardiology. 2008. In press. Accessed April 17, 2009.
  12. Morgenthaler TI (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. May 22, 2009.

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June 16, 2009

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