[Prevalence of stroke and transitory ischemic attacks in obstructive sleep apnea: a retrospective analyis so f 187 consecutive patients].

BACKGROUND

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is presumed to be significantly associated with cerebrovascular disease; however, there are no consistent epidemiological data providing proof of such a link. Hence, the aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA) in patients with OSA.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

187 consecutive patients with a polysomnographically verified diagnosis of OSA who had been admitted to our sleep laboratory during 1/98-3/00 were retrospectively analysed.

RESULTS

The prevalence of stroke and TIA was 7%. This rate was lower if compared with those for coronary artery disease and arterial hypertension in the same study cohort (14% and 53% respectively). The 13 OSA patients with stroke were elderly overweight men (age: 64 +/- 1.7 years, BMI: 31.4 +/- 1.1 kg/m2). They had quite severe OSA (AHI: 43 +/- 5/h) and almost all of them suffered from arterial hypertension. In all cases, the insult was caused by cerebral or brain stem ischemia. None of the patients presented with persistent neurological deficits. The mean latency period between the occurrence of stroke or TIA and the diagnosis of OSA was 41.9 +/- 11.3 months.

CONCLUSION

In summary, the prevalence of stroke or TIA in our series of 187 consecutive OSA patients was 7%. Further prospective studies controlling for confounding factors such as age, body weight and arterial hypertension are needed to clarify the risk potential of OSA for the development of cerebrovascular disorders.