Central Sleep Apnea

Types

Primary
Cause is unknown. Breathing pattern consists of repetitive absences of breathing effort and airflow.

Cheyne-Stokes breathing pattern
Caused by heart failure, stroke, or possibly kidney failure. Breathing pattern consists of rhythmic increase and decrease in breathing effort and airflow.

Medical condition not Cheyne-Stokes
Caused by heart and kidney problems, or by damage to the part of brain that controls breathing. No Cheyne-Stokes breathing pattern is present.

High-altitude periodic breathing
Caused by sleeping at altitudes higher than 15,000 feet, and may possibly occur in some individuals at lower elevations. Breathing pattern resembles increases and decreases of Cheyne-Stokes pattern but with a shorter cycle time. Doesn't usually require treatment and breathing returns to normal upon return to lower altitude.

Due to drug or substance
Usually caused by opioid pain medicines. Several sleep-disordered breathing patterns can occur in this context, including including central and obstructive irregularities.

Primary sleep apnea of infancy
Usually caused by premature birth and underdevelopment of the respiratory system, though can also be caused by other medical conditions or drugs. May coexist with OSA.