Individuals who have experienced a stroke might be at a greater risk of sleeping either excessively or insufficiently compared to those who haven’t had a stroke, according to a recent investigation. The findings do not confirm that strokes directly lead to sleep abnormalities; they merely indicate a correlation.
Individuals who have experienced a stroke may be more inclined to sleep excessively or too little when compared to those without a history of stroke, per a study released in the online edition of Neurology® on September 11, 2024, the official journal of the American Academy of Neurology. This study does not establish that a stroke directly causes unusual sleep patterns; it only indicates a connection.
“Getting the right amount of sleep is vital for optimal brain and heart health,” stated Dr. Sara Hassani, the study’s author from Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, North Carolina, and a member of the American Academy of Neurology. “We understand that both excessively long and short sleep after a stroke can hinder recovery and lessen the quality of life, so our findings should encourage screening for these sleep problems and exploring ways to assist people in enhancing their sleep routines.”
The research involved 39,559 participants, with 1,572 having experienced a stroke and 37,987 not having had one.
Participants were surveyed every two years regarding their typical nightly sleep during weekdays or workdays. Their sleep was categorized as short (less than six hours), normal (six to eight hours), or long (eight hours or more).
Researchers examined the frequency of normal sleep (defined as six to eight hours) among participants.
Normal sleep was less prevalent among stroke survivors compared to those without a stroke across all age brackets: 32% vs. 54% for ages 18-44; 47% vs. 55% for ages 45-64; and 45% vs. 54% for individuals over 65.
After adjusting for variables such as age, weight, and high blood pressure, it was found that stroke survivors were 54% more likely to report sleeping over eight hours per night compared to those who hadn’t had a stroke. They were also 50% more likely to report sleeping less than six hours per night than non-stroke individuals.
“Previous studies have linked strokes to abnormal sleep, particularly sleep apnea,” noted Hassani. “Conditions like insomnia and excessive daytime sleepiness are frequently seen in stroke patients and may arise either directly or indirectly from the stroke itself. Future studies should investigate the relationship between stroke and sleep duration and assess how sleep duration influences recovery outcomes following a stroke.”
A limitation of the study was that the sleep duration was self-reported, which means participants might not accurately recall the amount of sleep they received.
This research was funded by the James and Dorothy Williams Stroke Scholarship.
