Skip to main content

Risk for Stroke Increased in Association With Insomnia Symptoms

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com.

By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter

FRIDAY, June 9, 2023 -- Insomnia symptoms are associated with an increased risk for stroke, with a dose-response relationship, according to a study published online June 7 in Neurology.

Wendemi Sawadogo, M.D., M.P.H., from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, and colleagues examined the association between insomnia symptoms and the incidence of stroke among adults and their spouses in the Health and Retirement Study. Data were included for 31,126 U.S. participants (average age, 61 years) with a mean follow-up of nine years.

The researchers found that over time, insomnia symptom trajectories remained constant. An increased risk for stroke was observed for those with insomnia symptom scores ranging from 1 to 4 and 5 to 8 compared with those with no insomnia symptoms (hazard ratios, 1.16 and 1.51, respectively), indicating a dose-response relationship. Comparing those with insomnia symptoms ranging from 5 to 8 to those with no symptoms, participants younger than 50 years had a stronger association than those aged 50 years and older (hazard ratios, 3.84 and 1.38, respectively). Diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and depression mediated the association.

"There are many therapies that can help people improve the quality of their sleep, so determining which sleep problems lead to an increased risk of stroke may allow for earlier treatments or behavioral therapies for people who are having trouble sleeping and possibly reducing their risk of stroke later in life," Sawadogo said in a statement.

Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Posted June 2023

Read this next

Staying Up Late Tied to Poorer Mental Health

TUESDAY, June 4, 2024 -- Going to bed late, regardless of natural inclination, is associated with poorer mental health, according to a study published online May 19...

Ultraprocessed Food Intake Tied to Chronic Insomnia

TUESDAY, June 4, 2024 -- Consumption of ultraprocessed foods (UPF) is independently tied to chronic insomnia in the general population, according to a study recently published in...

Delay in Hospital Arrival After Stroke Linked to Social Vulnerability

THURSDAY, May 30, 2024 -- Areas with a high incidence of delay in hospital arrival after ischemic stroke are characterized by increased social vulnerability, according to a study...

More news resources

Subscribe to our newsletter

Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.