Background: Sleep disturbances are a major complaint following stroke, hindering recovery, and reducing quality of life. This study investigates the potential association between sleep problems and Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), a marker of systemic inflammation, in stroke patients.
Methods: This prospective cohort study recruited patients diagnosed with acute stroke. Sleep quality was assessed using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) at baseline (one day post-stroke) and one month follow-up. Blood samples were collected at baseline to determine NLR. Multivariable logistic regression analysis adjusted for potential confounders evaluated the association between NLR and sleep disturbances (PSQI score > 5) at one month.
Results: Among 69 patients, 53 (76.8%) reported sleep disturbances at one month. Patients with sleep disturbances had a higher baseline NLR compared to those without sleep disturbances (7.35 vs. 4.16, p = 0.08). Multivariate analysis showed that NLR >2.846 was significantly associated with increased risk of sleep disturbances (OR = 1.63, 95%CI: 1.28-20.20, p 0.021).
Conclusions: An increased NLR at admission is a predictor of sleep disturbances within one month after stroke. This emphasizes the need for further research to elucidate the mechanisms by which NLR and inflammation might influence sleep quality in stroke patients.