Sleep Apnea and the Risk of Stroke in the Elderly

To the Editor: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is emerging as an important risk factor for stroke. Recent prospective studies, focusing on middle-aged adults with OSA, showed an increased risk of stroke after a follow-up that varied from 4 to 10 years.1–3 In addition, Marin et al found that continuous positive airway pressure therapy promotes significant reduction on the composite risk of fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events, including stroke.1 Despite these convincing data, the majority of strokes does not occur in this age rate, limiting the external validity of the relationship between OSA and stroke for more advanced age. In addition, the impact of OSA in …