ObjectiveTo observes the postoperative transformation of subjective and objective sleep quality and related influencing factors in patients with rheumatic valvular heart disease (RVHD) who were found with central sleep apnea (CSA) after cardiac valve replacement.MethodsA total of 262 patients undergoing cardiac valve replacement were screened for CSA by overnight polysomnography and 21 patients with CSA were enrolled and followed up successfully in the 3th, 6th and 12th month of postoperation from April 2010 to January 2013. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Epworth Sleepiness, polysomnography and cardiac function were evaluated in preoperation and postoperation (in the 3th, 6th and 12th month).ResultsNew York Heart Association class ［preoperation and postoperation: (3.7±0.5), (2.3±0.6), (1.7±0.6), (1.6±0.7), F=81.124, P<0.05］ continuously decreased, left ventricular ejection fraction ［preoperation and postoperation: (58.5±6.8)%, (60.0±7.4)%, (60.9±5.6)%, (64.4±4.0)%, F=7.182, P<0.05］ steadily increased, six-minute walk distance ［preoperation and postoperation: (271.5±76.6), (422.1±71.9), (445.1±56.2), (454.5± 63.5) m, F=67.134, P<0.05］ constantly increased. During postoperative follow-up, sleep apnea-hypopnea index ［preoperation and postoperation: (26.2±13.4), (12.0±11.5), (8.6±7.5), (7.4±5.5)/h, F=20.548, P<0.05, central sleep apnea index ［preoperation and postoperation: (19.6±10.3), (0.5±1.5), (0.3±1.3), (0.2±0.7)/h, F=72.926, P<0.05］ and oxygen desaturation index ［preoperation and postoperation: (20.1±16.6), (10.8±9.5), (8.5±7.2), (6.1±5.1)/h, F=9.646, P<0.05］ sustained improved. Aroual index ［preoperation and postoperation: (23.1±12.1), (2.7±3.8), (3.5±4.8), (2.2±2.1)/h, F=58.370, P<0.05］ presented overall downward trend. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scale ［preoperation and postoperation: (11.1±3.2), (8.2±3.3), (6.0±3.8), (4.4±2.5), F=27.670, P<0.05］ were constantly improved. Epworth Sleepiness scale ［preoperation and postoperation: (13.3±5.7), (6.9±4.5), (8.2±4.8), (6.1±3.7), F=15.994, P<0.05］ showed overall reduction.ConclusionThe sleep quality of patients with RVHD and CSA is improved after cardiac valve replacement, of which the trend is in keep with postoperative recovery of cardiac function.