title: Stroke and sleep-disordered breathing: A relationship under construction.
abstract: The association between sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and cardiovascular risk has been the focus of attention in recent years. Sleep disorders are emerging risk factors for cardiovascular disease and have been related to the whole spectrum of stroke, including transient ischemic attack, ischemic cerebral infarction and intracerebral haemorrhage. It has been shown that lacunar stroke or lacunar infarctions affecting the internal capsule or the protuberance are associated with a higher frequency of SDB. Acute stroke patients with associated SDB have a worse prognosis and a higher mortality as compared to patients with first-ever stroke without SDB. Preliminary studies provide evidence of the usefulness of treatment with continuous positive airway pressure when SDB is present in stroke patients.
authors.affiliation: Olga Parra, Service of Pneumology, Hospital Universitari del Sagrat Cor, University of Barcelona, E-08029 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Parra
authors.affiliation: Olga Parra, Service of Pneumology, Hospital Universitari del Sagrat Cor, University of Barcelona, E-08029 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Adrià
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arboix
keywords: Apnea-hypopnea index; Cardiovascular risk factors; Continuous positive airway pressure; Ischemic stroke; Lacunar infarction; Sleep disordered