Obstructive sleep apnea more than doubles stroke risk in men

According to recent results from new research supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with an increased risk of stroke in middle-aged and older adults, especially men.

The researchers found overall, sleep apnea more than doubles the risk of stroke in men. This increased risk of stroke appeared in men with mild sleep apnea and rose with the severity. Men with moderate to severe sleep apnea were nearly three times more likely to have a stroke than men without sleep apnea or with mild sleep apnea. However, in women, the increased risk of stroke was significant only with severe levels of sleep apnea. The increased risk of stroke from sleep apnea is independent of other risk factors such as weight, high blood pressure, race, smoking, and diabetes.

The research conclusion was reported online ahead of the print edition of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.