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Sleep and Stroke: New Updates on Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, Assessment, and Treatment

  • Sleep and Neurological Conditions (A Avidan, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Sleep Medicine Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

This review aims to discuss the most recent data on sleep disorders and stroke, highlighting relevant findings for the practicing neurologist or health providers who encounter patients with sleep disorders and stroke.

Recent Findings

Sleep apnea and abnormal sleep duration have the strongest association with stroke risk. Possible mechanisms include non-dipping of blood pressure during sleep, hypoxemia, or reoxygenation leading to sympathetic activation, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, and impaired cerebral hemodynamics. Treatment studies suggest that continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) for sleep apnea could improve primary prevention of stroke, but data is equivocal for secondary prevention. However, CPAP could improve functional outcomes after stroke.

Summary

Sleep disorders present an opportunity to improve stroke risk and functional outcomes. However, new strategies are needed to determine the patients at high-risk who would most likely benefit from targeted care. Novel methods for phenotyping sleep disorders could provide personalized stroke care to improve clinical outcomes and public health strategies.

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  1. Department of Neurology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, 1120 NW 14th Street, Suite. no. 1350, Miami, FL, 33136, USA

    Hsien Lee Lau, Tatjana Rundek & Alberto Rafael Ramos

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Lau, H.L., Rundek, T. & Ramos, A.R. Sleep and Stroke: New Updates on Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, Assessment, and Treatment. Curr Sleep Medicine Rep 5, 71–82 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40675-019-00142-1

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