Sleep disordered breathing following stroke

In recent years there has been increasing interest in the relationship between obstructive sleep apnoea and stroke. It is clear that many patients who have had a stroke have marked obstructive sleep apnoea. This is seen during recovery but also during the acute phase when transient hypoxaemia and the blood pressure swings associated with upper airway obstruction, may worsen the ischaemic penumbra of the area of the brain which is compromised, leading to a worse outcome. There is some evidence to support this hypothesis. This article explores these issues.