This interesting study supports the hypothesis of the protective effects of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) against ischemic events like stroke. The authors evaluated the impact of OSA with the presentation, hospital course and outcomes of patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). They extracted data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) for the study. Their data analysis showed that compared to all other patients with SAH, patients with OSA had a significantly lower in-hospital mortality rate and lower odds of vasospasm, stroke and poor outcomes. Interestingly, patients with hypercholesterolemia, obesity and tobacco usage also had more favourable outcomes. The authors support the theory of hypercapnia, chronic intermittent hypoxia and ischemic preconditioning of the brain prevalent in patients with OSA provides neuroprotection by attenuating SAH induced vasospasm.
OSA is neuroprotective!
Reviewed by Gauri Mankekar
Protective effects of obstructive sleep apnea on outcomes after subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A nationwide analysis.
CONTRIBUTOR
Gauri Mankekar
Department of Otolaryngology-Head Neck Surgery, Louisiana State University Shreveport, Louisiana, USA.
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