Due to copyright issues, an electronic copy of the thesis must be ordered from the faculty. For the faculty to have time to process the order, the order must be received by the faculty at the latest 2 days before the public defence. Orders received later than 2 days before the defence will not be processed. After the public defence, please address any inquiries regarding the thesis to the candidate.
Trial Lecture – time and place
See Trial Lecture.
Adjudication committee
- First opponent: Professor Carina Blomström-Lundqvist, Uppsala University, Sweden
- Second opponent: Associate Professor Sverre Lehmann, University of Bergen, Norway
- Third member and chair of the evaluation committee: Professor Jørgen Gravning, University of Oslo
Chair of the Defence
Associate Professor Lars Fjellbirkeland, University of Oslo
Principal Supervisor
Senior Consultant Ole-Gunnar Anfinsen, Oslo University Hospital
Summary
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia, while obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a frequent and often underdiagnosed comorbidity. Both conditions are associated with increased risk of stroke, heart failure, and death, yet their interplay remains insufficiently understood. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the established treatment for OSA, but its role in AF has been unclear. This doctoral thesis presents the first randomised controlled trial to systematically investigate CPAP therapy in patients with AF and OSA, both before and after catheter ablation with pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) for AF. Continuous rhythm monitoring with implantable loop recorders and carefully measured CPAP adherence enabled detailed assessment of AF burden, recurrence after ablation, cardiac remodelling, and inflammatory mechanisms. The work provides novel insights into the relationship between OSA and AF and represents a significant scientific advance in the field.
Additional information
Contact the research support staff.