Stroke and Sleep Disorders

Sleep disorders are highly prevalent in patients at risk for stroke and may be modifiable risk factors for stroke. Obstructive sleep apnea increases the risk of stroke independently, but the reported lack of therapeutic effectiveness of Continuous positive airway pressure for stroke prevention and cardiovascular protection should be cautiously interpreted. Short or long sleep duration, and insomnia with objective short sleep duration, could be risk factors for stroke and mortality. Sleep-related movement disorders, including Periodic limb movement during sleep and Restless leg syndrome are also potential risk factors for stroke. The overall findings suggest that systematic screening and proper management of sleep disturbances can substantially contribute to stroke risk modification at the population level.