Sleep Apnea Syndrome and Related Factors in Patients with Stroke

Sleep Apnea Syndrome and Related Factors in Patients with Stroke

Background and Purpose: A cross-sectional study design was used to investigate the relationship s among stroke status, sleep pattens and severity of sleep apnea syndrome in stroke patients in Taiwan. Methods: Data from 165 stroke patients were retrieved from a rehabilitation hospital from January 20 II to March 20 I3. From medical records, information including demographic characteristics, stroke status, anthropometric measurements, health behaviors, medical history, and biochemical test results were collected. Polysomnography (PSG) was performed 1-2 months after stroke, during hospitalization, with the consent of patients and their families. Results: Eighty percent of the stroke patients suffered from sleep apnea (AHI＞ 15 times/hour). Sleep efficiency was low (70.3%± 16.4), falling to 69.3% (SD 16.0) in those with severe sleep apnea (AHI ≧ 3 0 times/hour). Abnormal sleep in patients with severe sleep apnea involved reductions in total sleep time (TST), sleep efficiency, stage N2 duration , stage N2%, and stage R%, as well as increases in sleep onset latency (SOL) , wake after sleep onset (WASO), stage W, and arousal index. Severity of sleep apnea in stroke patients was associated with male gender (r_s=.159, P=.04 I), history of arrhythmia (r_s=.176,P=.024), and advanced age (r=.262, P= .00 1), as well as high body mass index (BM!) (r=.245,P=.002) and large waist circumference (r=.225,P=.005). Conclusions: Among patients with stroke there is a high incidence of sleep apnea. Gender, age, history of arrhythmia, BMI, and waist circumference are correlated with severity of sleep apnea. This study highlights the importance of sleep problems and related treatment in patients with stroke.