Abstract WP272: Sleep-disordered Breathing is Associated With Worse Stroke Outcomes in Mexican Americans

Abstract

Objective: Post-stroke sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is prevalent and may be linked to poor stroke recovery but population-based studies in diverse populations are lacking. Our objective was to examine the association between SDB measured soon after stroke and stroke outcomes and to determine whether associations vary by ethnicity in the population-based Brain Attack Surveillance in Corpus Christi (BASIC) Project. Methods: Ischemic stroke (IS) patients were offered SDB screening with the ApneaLink Plus™; SDB was defined as apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) ≥ 10 events per hour. Patient data were collected from interviews and medical records. Functional, neurologic, cognitive, and quality of life (QOL) outcomes were ascertained at 90-days by patient or proxy interviews. Regression models were used to examine associations between SDB and outcomes adjusted for confounders. Interaction terms were used to investigate differences by ethnicity. Results: 232 NHW and 393 MA IS patients had a successful SDB screening and completed a 90-day interview. Median age was 65 years (IQR:58-75) among MAs and 67 (IQR:58-77) among NHWs. Post-stroke SDB was 68.7% in MAs [median AHI: 16 (IQR:8-26)] and 52.6% in NHWs [median AHI: 10 (IQR:6-23)]. Patients with SDB were more likely to be MA and to have diabetes, hypertension, and higher BMI but less likely to smoke than those without SDB. SDB was associated with worse functional, neurologic, cognitive, and QOL outcomes in MAs but not NHWs (Table). Conclusions: SDB is associated with worse stroke outcomes in MAs but not NHWs, the reasons for which should be explored. SDB treatment in MAs may improve outcomes in this subgroup and lessen ethnic stroke outcome disparities.