Moderate to severe sleep apnoea is associated with a higher risk of brain microbleeds, latest evidence has underscored.
A new study from the Korea University Ansan Hospital has found that obstructive sleep apnoea can trigger cerebral microbleeds – small, chronic haemorrhages in the brain, likely caused by weakened small blood vessels.
Cerebral microbleeds are linked with a higher risk having a symptomatic stroke and dementia, prior research has revealed.
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As part of the study, the team of researchers examined the sleep quality and brain health outcomes of 1,441 adults, all of whom were in late middle age.
A total of 812 of the participants had no obstructive sleep apnoea, 436 had mild obstructive sleep apnoea and 193 were living with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnoea.
The participants’ severity of sleep apnoea was ranked into three categories: 0 to 4.9 events per hour (no sleep apnoea), 5 to 14.9 events per hour (mild), and 15 or more events per hour (moderate to severe).
Meanwhile, the scientists detected cerebral microbleeds as focal areas smaller than 10 mm with very low signal as scored by a radiologist.
After four years, 1.85% of participants in the non–obstructive sleep apnoea group suffered a cerebral microbleed, compared to 1.61% in the mild obstructive sleep apnoea group and 4.66% in the moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnoea group, the results have revealed.
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After eight years, this increased to 3.33% of participants in the non–obstructive sleep apnoea group, 3.21% in the mild obstructive sleep apnoea group and 7.25% in the moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnoea group.
The authors said: “Obstructive sleep apnoea represents a modifiable target for early diagnosis and treatment with the goal of preventing microbleeds and potentially reducing future stroke and dementia burden in aging populations.”
Read the study in the journal JAMA Network Open.
