Advance in Relationship between Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Stroke (review) / 中国康复理论与实践

ABSTRACT

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may increase the risk of stroke, and patients with stroke are also prone to suffer OSA. Advanced age, high body mass index, male, hypertension and diabetes are risk factors for stoke in OSA patients, and severe sleep apnea may also be associated with poor functional outcomes of stroke. Potential pathophysiological mechanisms may include endothelial dysfunction, abnormal neuromodulation, metabolic abnormalities, change of cerebral hemodynamic and hypercoagulability. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the standard treatment for patients with moderate to severe OSA, but it has not been proved that CPAP can reduce the risk of cardiovascular events including stroke.