Prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea in patients with intracranial aneurysms

Abstract Purpose Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with various cardiovascular and cerebrovascular conditions; however, its prevalence among patients with intracranial aneurysms (IAs) remains insufficiently characterized. Emerging evidence suggests that OSA may contribute to IA formation, progression, and outcomes after rupture. Methods This study included 244 participants: 84 IA patients without prior clinical suspicion of OSA and 160 OSA-symptomatic comparators. Overnight respiratory polygraphy (RP) was used to assess apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) and presence of OSA. Group differences were analyzed using models adjusted for age, BMI, and sex. Results Among IA patients, 50.0% had findings consistent with OSA on RP (AHI ≥ 5 events per hour), of whom 27.4% were classified as mild, 15.5% as moderate, and 7.1% as severe. The corresponding proportions in the OSA-symptomatic comparison group were 71.3% for overall OSA, and 36.3%, 18.1%, and 16.9%, for mild, moderate, and severe, respectively. Log-transformed AHI in IA patients did not differ significantly from that in the symptomatic comparison group (F(1,238) = 1.88, p = 0.171, partial η 2 = 0.008). Conclusion RP findings demonstrated a high and largely unrecognized burden of OSA in IA patients. These findings support more systematic and proactive screening for OSA in IA patients, particularly among those with established OSA risk factors.