Abstract: Objective To analyze the role of dysphagia during the course of sleep apnea in patients who experienced a first-ever ischemic stroke.Methods According to the video-fluoroscopy,50 patients were divided into two groups:dysphagia and non-dysphagia groups.The effect of different sites and severity of infarction on the breathing disturbance was analyzed,and the possible role of dysphagia was discussed.Results Patients with dysphagia showed more number of OAIs at the acute phase(AHI,20.9;OAI,19.1)than that of non-dysphagic patients(AHI,9.5;OAI,8.6).Multiple correlation analysis found the extent of dysphagia had relationship with the AHI,especially OAI(AHI,P=0.018;OAI,P=0.024).Conclusion The number and type of obstructive apneic events may occur at the acute phase of a first-ever cerebral infarction in patients with pharyngeal muscle alterations secondary to the neurological lesion.

Key words: dysphagia, cerebral infarction, sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome