title: [Sleep apnea syndrome and stroke in the elderly population].
abstract: The objective was to compare the prevalence of sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) in elderly individuals with a history of stroke to the one in individuals, matched by age and sex with a history of insomnia. To determine if previous subjective sleep complaints in the elderly are associated with stroke. A cross-sectional study with subsequent 3-year follow-up was designed in an acute geriatric inpatient unit. 19 subjects with documented stroke and 21 subjects with insomnia were included. All participants were assessed with a sleep questionnaire, an overnight polysomnographic examination including a recording of respiratory movements, and pulse oximetry. SAS was diagnosed in 68.4 p. 100 in the stroke group compared with 28.6 p. 100 in the insomnia group (p = 0.01). The median apnea/hypopnea index was significantly higher in the stroke group: 25 events per hour versus 2 in the insomnia group (p = 0.01). The median lowest oxygen saturation was not significantly different in the two groups (p = 0.3). Snoring and previous daytime sleepiness were both correlated with stroke (p = 0.05, p = 0.003). Among sleep complaints and cardiovascular risk factors, only a history of diabetes and previous daytime sleepiness were found to be significantly associated with stroke (p = 0.01, p = 0.002). Mortality was higher in SAS subjects (58.8 p. 100) than in non SAS subjects (33 p. 100). The difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.14), but a tendency could be noticed. SAS is a common finding in elderly individuals after a stroke. Physicians must be aware of the risks of prescribing sedatives and anxiolytics to these patients.
authors.affiliation: Service de Médecine Interne Gériatrique, Hôpital Charles Foix, Ivry sur Seine.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nasr-Wyler
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bouillanne
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lalhou
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Goldenberg
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bissery
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Piette
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D006970:Disorders of Excessive Somnolence / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017286:Polysomnography; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications*; D015996:Survival Rate