FIG. 6:  Based on the pathophysiologic processes outlined in the previous Figure, it is not really surprising that there is increased mortality in patients with heart failure on the one hand and breathing disturbances on the other hand. 

This Figure presents a study by Khayat and colleagues,^[3] who investigated >1000 patients hospitalized for acute heart failure and followed them for 3 years.  At baseline more than two-thirds of the patients had some type of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB)  during sleep, including CSA or OSA; only about one-third of the patients did not present with SDB .  In addition, over the 3-year period of follow-up, there was a clear reduction of survival in those patients with CSA or OSA who had SDB or who received no treatment.  But those patients with SDB who were sufficiently treated had no reduction in survival compared to the control group.