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.