Localization and type of acute stroke in relation to sleep apnea

Abstract

Background: More than 50% of stroke patients have sleep-disordered breathing.

Aim: To determine whether the location and type of stroke affect the occurrence of sleep apnea.

Patients and methods: We analyzed 110 patients with acute stroke and verified sleep apnea. Acute stroke has been verified either by computerized tomography or magnetic resonance imaging of the brain. Average age was 65.13±9.27 years and it was 59% men. Number of patients without apnea in control group was the same as well as gender distribution, with average age 64±8.69 years.

Results: Apnea was verified in 22% patients. The largest number of patients with and without apnea had ischemic stroke 83.6%, while 16.4% of patients had hemorrhagic stroke. Of these, there were 86.2% men and 80% women with ischemic and 13.8% men and 20% women with hemorrhagic stroke. With apnea, the largest number had a lesion in two or more places 51.8%,

as well as without apnea 45.45%, but the difference was not statistically significant. According to the acute stroke, the largest number of patients with and without apnea had lesions in the left and right hemispheres 45.4%. There was no statistically significant association between apnea and localization of stroke in the left or in both hemispheres. There is a statistically significant association of AS localization in the right hemisphere with the occurrence of apnea.

Conclusion: There is a statistically significant association between the localization of stroke in the right hemisphere and the occurrence of apnea.