Association of sleep-disordered breathing and the occurrence of stroke

Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2005 Dec 1;172(11):1447-51. doi: 10.1164/rccm.200505-702OC. Epub 2005 Sep 1.

Abstract

Rationale: Sleep-disordered breathing has been linked to stroke in previous studies. However, these studies either used surrogate markers of sleep-disordered breathing or could not, due to cross-sectional design, address the temporal relationship between sleep-disordered breathing and stroke.

Objectives: To determine whether sleep-disordered breathing increases the risk for stroke.

Methods: We performed cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses on 1,475 and 1,189 subjects, respectively, from the general population. Sleep-disordered breathing was defined by the apnea-hypopnea index (frequency of apneas and hypopneas per hour of sleep) obtained by attended polysomnography. The protocol, including polysomnography, risk factors for stroke, and a history of physician-diagnosed stroke, was repeated at 4-yr intervals.

Measurements and main results: In the cross-sectional analysis, subjects with an apnea-hypopnea index of 20 or greater had increased odds for stroke (odds ratio, 4.33; 95% confidence interval, 1.32-14.24; p = 0.02) compared with those without sleep-disordered breathing (apnea-hypopnea index, <5) after adjustment for known confounding factors. In the prospective analysis, sleep-disordered breathing with an apnea-hypopnea index of 20 or greater was associated with an increased risk of suffering a first-ever stroke over the next 4 yr (unadjusted odds ratio, 4.31; 95% confidence interval, 1.31-14.15; p = 0.02). However, after adjustment for age, sex, and body mass index, the odds ratio was still elevated, but was no longer significant (3.08; 95% confidence interval, 0.74-12.81; p = 0.12).

Conclusions: These data demonstrate a strong association between moderate to severe sleep-disordered breathing and prevalent stroke, independent of confounding factors. They also provide the first prospective evidence that sleep-disordered breathing precedes stroke and may contribute to the development of stroke.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Confidence Intervals
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Odds Ratio
  • Polysomnography
  • Prevalence
  • Prospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Sleep Apnea Syndromes / complications*
  • Sleep Apnea Syndromes / epidemiology
  • Sleep Apnea Syndromes / physiopathology
  • Stroke / epidemiology
  • Stroke / etiology*
  • Stroke / physiopathology
  • Wisconsin / epidemiology