The effect of continuous positive airway pressure on spectral encephalogram characteristics in stroke patients with obstructive sleep apnea

Hisham Alshaer; Aditya Pandya; Igor Zivanovic; Carolina Gonzaga Carvalho; Clodagh M Ryan

doi:10.1016/j.resp.2018.01.003

The effect of continuous positive airway pressure on spectral encephalogram characteristics in stroke patients with obstructive sleep apnea

Respir Physiol Neurobiol. 2018 Feb:249:62-68. doi: 10.1016/j.resp.2018.01.003. Epub 2018 Jan 9.

Authors

Hisham Alshaer¹, Aditya Pandya², Igor Zivanovic¹, Carolina Gonzaga Carvalho³, Clodagh M Ryan⁴

Affiliations

¹ Sleep Research Laboratory, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.
² Department of Physics, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON, Canada.
³ Sleep Research Laboratory, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada; Sleep Laboratory, Insituto Dante Pazzanese de Cardiologia, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil.
⁴ Sleep Research Laboratory, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. Electronic address: clodagh.ryan@uhn.ca.

PMID: 29329819
DOI: 10.1016/j.resp.2018.01.003

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate if treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) compared to usual care in stroke patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) over one month reduces delta and alpha oscillations on quantitative electroencephalography (EEG) in association with improvements in cognitive or functional outcomes.

Methods: Spectral EEG analysis was performed in patients with subacute stroke and OSA randomized to usual care or CPAP treatment from a previous study.

Results: A total of 23 subjects were included. Compared to CPAP (n = 14), those in the control (n = 9) group demonstrated a significant increase in alpha power (p = 0.042). There was no between group differences for delta, theta or beta power. No significant correlation was demonstrated between the change in alpha power and indices of OSA severity or sleepiness. The increase in alpha power did not correlate with improvements in outcomes.

Conclusion: Contrary to expectations CPAP treatment of OSA did not significantly decrease alpha and delta oscillations in stroke subjects.

Keywords: Continuous positive airway pressure; Electroencephalogram; Obstructive sleep apnea; Spectral analysis; Stroke.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Aged
Brain Waves / physiology*
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure / methods*
Electroencephalography / methods
Humans
Middle Aged
Polysomnography
Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / complications*
Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / therapy*
Spectrum Analysis
Statistics, Nonparametric
Stroke / complications*