New research has examined whether or not sleep disturbances have any association with stroke as sleep deprivation and sleeping for longer than nine hours a day have already been found to increase stroke risk.
Researchers hope that the findings of this study will be able to help inform target interventions.
The Canadian based study shows that almost two-thirds of those with stroke in Canada display symptoms of disturbed sleep. The study also found that those who had a stroke were up to 7 times more likely to report multiple sleep problems compared to the general population.
What could this study mean for physicians and stroke specialist?
Study first author and PhD student, Matthew Jeffers, states that greater awareness, guidance for treatment, and research on how to manage sleep problems in the context of stroke is needed.
Jeffers says: “Our overall goal for practitioners in the primary care setting is to increase their awareness of the high number of stroke patients with sleep disturbance symptoms. Given how common this is, it may be worthwhile for physicians to consider screening for underlying sleep disorders in patients with stroke.”
A reviewer of this paper described it as a “well written and designed study” and that it “provides data on an important topic that, as the authors correctly point out, is lacking in the literature.”
In order to complete this study, the research team employed various statistical techniques for a cross-sectional analysis of the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS), a large and comprehensive national survey on health status and the determinants of health.
The researchers believe this study has allowed them to gain a better understanding of how common sleep problems are in stroke.
Jeffers does believe, however, there is more work to be be done: “Study groups of patients in sleep labs to get a more thorough and objective understanding of the relationship between stroke and specific types of sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea and insomnia.”
