An unusual cause of delirium

Abstract

Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) including obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), central sleep apnea (CSA), and Cheyne-Stokes breathing is common in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). In a study of 81 males with an ejection fraction (EF) < 45%, 51% of patients had documented SDB with the majority of cases representing CSA.1 Studies suggest that SDB is an independent risk factor for increased morbidity and mortality in the setting of CHF. 2 Like OSA, CSA frequently presents with nighttime awakenings, nocturnal hypoxia, and daytime somnolence, but only OSA has been reported to present with delirium. We present a patient with clear manifestations of CSA with frank delirium that improved only after BPAP therapy.