Research

Mixed

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is an independent risk factor for stroke and death from any cause, with risk increasing proportionally to the severity of the apnea.

If you have symptoms of sleep apnea (loud snoring, daytime sleepiness), get tested. The condition is not just a nuisance; it independently raises your risk of stroke and death, even if you don't have high blood pressure or are not obese. Treating the apnea is a stroke prevention strategy.

GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
The obstructive sleep apnea syndrome significantly increases the risk of stroke or death from any cause, and the increase is independent of other risk factors, including hypertension.
H. Klar Yaggi et al. · New England Journal of Medicine · 2005

Why this rating

Large observational cohort (n=1022) with long follow-up and rigorous adjustment for confounders, though not a randomized trial.

Source

Obstructive Sleep Apnea as a Risk Factor for Stroke and Death

H. Klar Yaggi et al. · New England Journal of Medicine · 2005

DOI 10.1056/nejmoa043104

cohort · n=1022Cited 2,994×
Read the paper
DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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