Dissertation Tove Elizabeth Hunt
On October 17, MD and ProCardio research fellow Tove Elizabeth Hunt will defind her thesis on the topic “Patients with atrial fibrillation and obstructive sleep apnea: Impact of continuous airway pressure treatment”.
Trial lecture
- Title: The interrelation between atrial fibrillation burden and obstructive sleep apnea: Impact of lifestyle modification and continuous airway pressure treatment
- When: 10.15
- Where: Blått auditorium, Rikshospitalet, Oslo University Hospital
Defence
- Title: Patients with atrial fibrillation and obstructive sleep apnea: Impact of continuous airway pressure treatment
- When: 13.15
- Where: Blått auditorium, Rikshospitalet, Oslo University Hospital
Summary
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia, while obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a frequent and often underdiagnosed comorbidity. Both conditions are associated with increased risk of stroke, heart failure, and death, yet their interplay remains insufficiently understood. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the established treatment for OSA, but its role in AF has been unclear. This doctoral thesis presents the first randomised controlled trial to systematically investigate CPAP therapy in patients with AF and OSA, both before and after catheter ablation with pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) for AF. Continuous rhythm monitoring with implantable loop recorders and carefully measured CPAP adherence enabled detailed assessment of AF burden, recurrence after ablation, cardiac remodelling, and inflammatory mechanisms. The work provides novel insights into the relationship between OSA and AF and represents a significant scientific advance in the field.