Sleep Apnea’s Stroke Risk May Differ by Race, Study Finds

The risk of stroke associated with sleep apnea may vary between Black and white people, according to a new study published in the journal Neurology. Researchers found that white people with diagnosed or high-risk sleep apnea faced an increased stroke risk, while Black people did not show a similar association.

 

The study, involving 22,192 participants with an average age of 64, followed subjects for an average of 12 years. Among white participants, those with diagnosed sleep apnea were 33% more likely to have a stroke compared to those without the condition. White individuals at high risk for sleep apnea also showed a 22% higher stroke risk.

 

Surprisingly, these increased risks were not observed in Black participants, despite previous research indicating higher stroke rates and sleep apnea prevalence in this group.

 

“These results were not what we were expecting to find,” said study author Rebecca Robbins of Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.

 

The research also revealed that Black people using continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines had a 64% reduced stroke risk compared to those not using the devices. This benefit was not observed in white participants.

 

Virginia J. Howard from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, a study co-author, noted the lack of information on CPAP adherence and sleep apnea severity as potential limitations.

 

The findings highlight the complex relationship between sleep apnea, stroke risk, and racial differences, emphasizing the need for further research to understand these disparities and improve targeted interventions.

 

See “Stroke risk linked to sleep apnea may vary for Black people and white people” (March 7, 2024)