Effects of the continuous positive airway pressure on the airways of patients with chronic heart failure.

BACKGROUND Heart failure can present with asymptomatic dysfunction at decompensation, with limitations and decrease in the productive capacity. The Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) is a non-pharmacological means to decrease afterload. OBJECTIVE To analyze the effects of CPAP (10 cmH2O), for 30 days in patients with chronic heart failure. METHODS We assessed 10 patients with heart failure (6 males, 4 females) of several etiologies, with a mean age of 54 +/- 14 years, with a BMI of 21 +/- 0.04 kg/m(2). The therapy was applied for 60 min., 5 times a week for 30 days, during the daytime. The echocardiogram and the ergospirometry were analyzed, before and 30 days after the therapy. RESULTS There was a 19.59% increase in the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF): 23.9 +/- 8.91 vs 27.65 +/- 9.56%; p = 0.045. At the ergospirometry, the exercise time (ET) showed a significant increase from 547 +/- 151.319 vs 700 +/- 293.990 sec., p = 0.02; oxygen consumption (VO2) was 9.59 +/- 6.1 vs 4.51 +/- 2.67 ml x kg(-1) x min(-1), p = 0.01, whereas the carbon dioxide production (VCO2) at rest (9.85 +/- 4.38 vs 6.44 +/- 2.88 ml x kg(-1) x min(-1), p = 0.03) decreased. CONCLUSION The CPAP resulted in an increase in the LVEF and ET, decreased the oxygen consumption and the carbon dioxide production at rest.