Relationship between cerebral artery stenosis and obstructive sleep apnea

Abstract

Objective To investigate the relationship of obstructive sleep apnea and atherosclerotic cerebral artery stenosis. Methods One hundred and twenty patients with acute cerebral infarction were enrolled in the study. Patients underwent polysomnography monitoring; according to the results, the sleep apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) was ≥5/h in 60 patients (OSA group) and AHI was <5/h in another 60 patients (non-OSA group). The degree, quantity and distribution of cerebral artery stenosis were compared between OSA and non-OSA group. Results The results showed that there were no significant differences in gender, age, NIHSS score and rates of diabetes, coronary heart disease, hyperlipidemia and smoking between two groups (P> 0.05). The rates of increased BMI [(26.07±2.39)vs.(23.59±2.73) kg/m2] and hypertension [70%(42/60)vs. 43%(26/60)] in OSA group were higher than those in non-OSA group (t=5.304, χ2=7.603, all P 0.05). The severity of cerebral artery stenosis in OSA group was higher than that in non-OSA group (χ2=17.801, P 0.05). Conclusion The study indicates that there is a close relationship between OSA and stenosis of atherosclerotic cerebral arteries. Key words: Sleep apnea, obstructive; Cerebral arterial stenosis