Evaluating Neurological Recovery in Intracerebral Hemorrhage and Sleep Apnea (ENRICH-SA) Study

2022 Physician Scientist Training Grant

Jacqueline H. Geer, MD, MHS
Yale University

Key Project Outcome

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is the second most common stroke subtype, accounting for 10-15% of all strokes. ICH has a high mortality rate, and the 50% who survive typically experience significant functional and cognitive impairment. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), an established risk factor for ischemic stroke, shares common pathophysiology – small vessel ischemic disease – with ICH. In my work prior to receiving the AASM Foundation award, I found that 70% of patients with ICH were at high risk for OSA based on a validated questionnaire. The prevalence of OSA as assessed by polysomnography (PSG), contribution of specific physiologic traits, and whether OSA severity is correlated with recovery, are critical gaps in the literature. The ENRICH-SA study sought to contribute to filling the knowledge gap regarding the association between OSA and ICH by determining the prevalence of OSA and its individual physiologic traits in ICH patients and compare functional and cognitive outcomes among ICH patients with and without OSA at three months.