Abstract:Objective To explore the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and cardiac organ damage in patients with acute cerebral infarction. Methods A total of 113 patients with acute cerebral infarction were enrolled. Patients underwent full multichannel 24-h polysomnography for evaluation of OSA and echocardiography to evaluate left ventricle mass index, thickness of interventricular septum and posterior wall, left ventricle ejection fraction and left atrium enlargement. Results A total of 61.9% (70) of patients, mostly men (67.1%), with acute cerebral infarction had OSA (AHI ≥5). Patients with acute cerebral infarction and OSA showed a significant increase (P < 0.05) of left ventricle mass index, interventricular septum and posterior wall thickness and a significant left atrial enlargement as compared with patients without OSA. Left ventricle ejection fraction was not significantly different in acute cerebral infarction patients with and without OSA and was within normal limits. Conclusions This study confirms the high prevalence of OSA in acute cerebral infarction patients, suggesting an association between OSA and cardiac target organ damage.