Dados do Trabalho

Título

PREVALENCE OF EDENTULISM AND SLEEP DISTURBANCES FOLLOWING STROKE

Introdução

Many authors have demonstrated the association between edentulism and various clinical, neurological (e.g. stroke) and sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Edentulism may influence the prevalence of sleep disturbances, including OSA, as well as poor sleep quality, excessive diurnal somnolence and restless leg syndrome in participants following stroke, and thus having consequent higher disabilities and negative outcomes.

Objetivo

To investigate the prevalence of edentulism, sleep quality, risk of obstructive sleep apnea and excessive daytime sleepiness, the type of stroke, and the potential association between edentulism and these sleep related factors in stroke patients attending the Neurovascular Outpatient Clinic at our University.

Métodos

This study assessed the prevalence of different types of stroke in 130 patients, and the influence of sleep disturbances using questionnaires on sleep quality, risk of obstructive sleep apnea, and excessive daytime sleepiness complaints. We also investigated the number of teeth and the nocturnal use of dental prostheses.

Resultados

The prevalence of ischemic stroke was 94.6%, with minor stroke severity and no significant disability or slight disability. Regarding the evaluation of sleep, our sample had poor sleep quality, higher risk of obstructive sleep apnea, but presented no excessive daytime sleepiness. We also found a high prevalence of missing teeth, or edentulism, as the majority used full removable dental prostheses and half of the sample slept with them.

Conclusões

Despite the complex and sometimes bi-directional relationships between edentulism, obstructive sleep apnea, sleep and stroke, we found a higher prevalence of poor sleep quality and a higher risk of obstructive sleep apnea in edentulous patients following stroke with a minor severity. This indicates the need for further studies on treating and preventing sleep disturbances and edentulism in stroke patients.

Palavras-chave

Stroke, apnea and edentulism.