Authors

  1. Garner, Shelby L. PhD, RN, CNE
  2. Traverse, Ramona D. BSN, RN, CCRN, CHFN

Abstract

Undiagnosed and untreated sleep-disordered breathing can lead to negative health outcomes and increased utilization of health resources among patients with heart failure. The purpose of this evidence-based practice project was to implement and evaluate a new multifaceted sleep-disordered breathing screening protocol in a heart failure disease management clinic. The combined use of a symptoms questionnaire, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, and overnight pulse oximetry was significantly more effective in identifying patients with a positive diagnosis of sleep-disordered breathing than using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale alone (P < .05).