Concerns About When to Perform Polysomnogarphy for Sleep-Disordered Breathing Recognized After an Ischemic Stroke: During Hospitalization or After Discharge?

Objectives: Sleep-disordered breathing is a common comorbidity in patients who have experienced ischemic stroke. It is typically diagnosed using polysomnography (PSG); however, no guidelines have been established regarding the appropriate timing for this test. We investigated whether polysomnographic findings obtained during hospitalization for acute ischemic stroke differ from findings obtained after discharge following symptom stabilization. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of patients who underwent PSG at the Department of Neurology, Chungnam National University Hospital, between January 1, 2024, and January 31, 2025. Among patients diagnosed with ischemic stroke and admitted to our hospital within one year prior to the date of PSG, we compared the clinical characteristics and polysomnographic findings between those who underwent PSG during hospitalization and those who underwent it after discharge. Results: No significant differences in clinical characteristics or polysomnographic findings were observed between patients who underwent PSG while hospitalized and those who underwent PSG after discharge. Conclusions: Unless the patient is clinically unstable, the timing of PSG—whether during hospitalization or after discharge following an ischemic stroke—does not appear to make a difference.