Central Sleep Apnea

Prevalence

Prevalence is unknown but thought to be rare.
The prevalence of Cheyne-Stokes breathing is high in individuals with depressed cardiac ventricular ejection fraction.
The male-to-female ratio for prevalence is even more highly skewed toward males than for obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea.
Prevalence increases with age, and most patients are older than 60 years.
Cheyne-Stokes breathing occurs in approximately 20% of individuals with acute stroke.

Cheyne-Stokes breathing is frequently present in individuals with heart failure.
The coexistence of atrial fibrillation further increases risk, as do older age and male gender.
Cheyne-Stokes breathing is also seen in association with acute stroke and possibly renal failure.
Central sleep apnea is seen in individuals taking long-acting opioids.

Evidence by polysomnography of five or more central apneas per hour of sleep.
The disorder is not better explained by another current sleep disorder.