Domínguez-Mayoral, AnaSánchez-Gómez, JesúsGuerrero, PatriciaFerrer, MartaGutiérrez, CarmenAguilar, MaríaFouz-Rosón, NataliaBenítez, José MaríaPérez-Sánchez, SoledadGamero-García, Miguel ÁngelDe Torres-Chacón, ReyesBarragán-Prieto, AnaAlgaba, PilarRuiz-Bayo, LidiaMontaner, Joan2022-12-132022-12-132021-10-30Domínguez-Mayoral A, Sánchez-Gómez J, Guerrero P, Ferrer M, Gutiérrez C, Aguilar M, et al. High prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in Spain's Stroke Belt. J Int Med Res. 2021 Oct;49(10):3000605211053090http://hdl.handle.net/10668/4493Objective Spain’s so-called Stroke Belt is an area with high prevalence of vascular disease. We aimed to determine the prevalence of undetected obstructive sleep apnea–hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) among patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in southern Spain. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study at the Virgen Macarena University Hospital Stroke Unit during 2018 to 2019. We included patients <72 hours after AIS with a neuroimaging lesion and performed sleep tests. Results Seventy-two patients were included. The median participant age was 72 years. Mean body mass index was 27.07 kg/m2, and 40.28% were daily alcohol drinkers. Hypertension, atrial fibrillation, ischemic cardiomyopathy, and previous stroke were detected in 63.9%, 11.1%, 15.3%, and 17.6% of patients, respectively. Polygraphy was feasible in 91.38% of patients. The prevalence of OSAHS was 84.72% (apnea–hypopnea index ≥5). Patients with moderate and severe OSAHS were more likely to be obese and to have a larger neck circumference and facial palsy. The diagnostic criteria of central sleep apnea syndrome were met in only 1.38% of patients. Conclusions The high prevalence of OSAHS found in the Spanish Stroke Belt justifies further investigation and development of a screening program as a strategy to identify patients with undetected OSAHS.enAtribución-NoComercial 4.0 Internacionalhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/Spanish stroke beltIschemic strokeObstructive sleep apnea–hypopnea syndromePolygraphyPolysomnographyScreeningPrevalenceFacial palsyHypertensionAccidente cerebrovascular isquémicoApnea obstructiva del sueñoSíndromes de la apnea del sueñoPolisomnografíaTamizaje masivoPrevalenciaParálisis facialHipertensiónEstudios transversalesAndalucíaMedical Subject Headings::Persons::Persons::Age Groups::Adult::AgedMedical Subject Headings::Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment::Investigative Techniques::Epidemiologic Methods::Epidemiologic Study Characteristics as Topic::Epidemiologic Studies::Cross-Sectional StudiesMedical Subject Headings::Organisms::Eukaryota::Animals::Chordata::Vertebrates::Mammals::Primates::Haplorhini::Catarrhini::Hominidae::HumansMedical Subject Headings::Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment::Investigative Techniques::Epidemiologic Methods::Data Collection::Vital Statistics::Morbidity::PrevalenceMedical Subject Headings::Geographical Locations::Geographic Locations::Europe::SpainMedical Subject Headings::Diseases::Nervous System Diseases::Central Nervous System Diseases::Brain Diseases::Cerebrovascular Disorders::Brain IschemiaMedical Subject Headings::Diseases::Nervous System Diseases::Sleep Disorders::Dyssomnias::Sleep Disorders, Intrinsic::Sleep Apnea Syndromes::Sleep Apnea, ObstructiveMedical Subject Headings::Diseases::Nervous System Diseases::Central Nervous System Diseases::Brain Diseases::Cerebrovascular Disorders::StrokeMedical Subject Headings::Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment::Diagnosis::Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures::Physical Examination::Body Constitution::Body Weights and Measures::Body Mass IndexMedical Subject Headings::Diseases::Cardiovascular Diseases::Heart Diseases::Arrhythmias, Cardiac::Atrial FibrillationMedical Subject Headings::Diseases::Nervous System Diseases::Neurologic Manifestations::Paralysis::Facial ParalysisMedical Subject Headings::Diseases::Nervous System Diseases::Sleep Disorders::Dyssomnias::Sleep Disorders, Intrinsic::Sleep Apnea Syndromes::Sleep Apnea, CentralMedical Subject Headings::Psychiatry and Psychology::Psychological Phenomena and Processes::Psychophysiology::SleepMedical Subject Headings::Diseases::Cardiovascular Diseases::Vascular Diseases::HypertensionMedical Subject Headings::Phenomena and Processes::Physiological Phenomena::Body Constitution::Body Weights and Measures::Body Size::Body Weight::Overweight::ObesityMedical Subject Headings::Diseases::Cardiovascular Diseases::Heart Diseases::CardiomyopathiesMedical Subject Headings::Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment::Diagnosis::Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures::Diagnostic Imaging::NeuroimagingMedical Subject Headings::Health Care::Health Care Facilities, Manpower, and Services::Health Facilities::Hospitalsresearch article34719990open access10.1177/030006052110530901473-2300PMC8562644