Higher prevalence of periodic limb movements of sleep in patients with history of stroke.
OBJECTIVE
The association between obstructive sleep apnea and stroke is well established. Less is known about the relationship between stroke and periodic limb movements of sleep (PLMS). This study sought to assess the frequency of PLMS in patients with a history of stroke.


METHODS
We reviewed the medical and polysomnographic records of 40 patients with a history of stroke and 40 control patients matched for age, sex, and risk factors.


RESULTS
19 patients with a history of stroke (47.5%) and 5 control patients (12.5%) had a PLMS index > 5/h (p < 0.001). The average PLMS index was also lower in control patients than patients with stroke (1.9 +/- 0.7 and 11.7 +/- 3.4; p = 0.006).


CONCLUSIONS
Our patients with a history of stroke had a greater prevalence and severity of PLMS than control patients. These limb movements may have implications for secondary stroke prevention as well as stroke recovery.
Division of Neurology, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Canada.
Fernando Morgadinho Santos
FM
Coelho
Hlynur
H
Georgsson
Marc
M
Narayansingh
Richard H
RH
Swartz
Brian J
BJ
Murray
D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020189:Nocturnal Myoclonus Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017286:Polysomnography / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology*