Polycythemia in a Patient with Heart Failure Resolved by Treatment of Underlying Sleep Apnea: A Case Report

Polycythemia is an independent predictor of mortality and hospitalization in patients with congestive heart failure. Sleep disordered breathing is highly prevalent in patients with congestive heart failure and also implicated in secondary polycythemia. We describe a case of polycythemia in a patient of congestive heart failure who was later diagnosed with sleep-disordered breathing. The polycythemia resolved with initiation of positive airway pressure therapy.