Short- and long-term continuous positive airway pressure usage in the post-stroke population with obstructive sleep apnea.

Purpose: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is highly prevalent in post-stroke patients and observational evidence suggests that untreated it is a harbinger of poorer outcomes in this population. Clinical trials on the impact of treatment of OSA with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) have countered difficulties with patient engagement and adherence to CPAP therapy. Real-world data on continuous positive airway pressure initiation and usage in the post-stroke population with obstructive sleep apnea is limited.

In-hospital diagnosis of sleep apnea in stroke patients using a portable acoustic device.

Purpose: Sleep apnea (SA) is highly prevalent in post-stroke patients. Due to physical disability and relative inaccessibility of polysomnography (PSG) to test for SA, patients with stroke frequently remain undiagnosed and untreated. Portable SA monitoring can facilitate at-home or in-hospital testing for SA.

Research ethics board approval for an international thromboprophylaxis trial.

Background: Research ethics board (REB) review of scientific protocols is essential, ensuring participants' dignity, safety, and rights. The objectives of this study were to examine the time from submission to approval, to analyze predictors of approval time, and to describe the scope of conditions from REBs evaluating an international thromboprophylaxis trial.

Methods: We generated survey items through literature review and investigators' discussions, creating 4 domains: respondent and institutional demographics, the REB application process, and alternate consent models.