Abstract
Circadian rhythm with 〜24h periodicity is the most basic and strongest biological rhythm. However, there have been reports of bed-ridden patients with neurodegenerative diseases and unclear circadian rhythm. Sequelae of cerebral infarction include sleep and motor disturbances. Additionally, these are risk factors which induce impairment of quality of life (QOL). We investigated whether biological rhythm disorder in the acute stage of cerebral infarction is associated with sleep disorder in the chronic stage. Thirty-five patients with initial cerebral infarction hospitalized within 48h of onset and without pyrexic diseases were included in the study. To determine biological rhythmicity, rectal temperature was measured at the acute stage within 48h of onset at 1-min intervals for 48h using Mini-Logger 2000. Spectral analyses were performed with the maximum entropy method (MEM). Pittsburgh Sleep Quality index was used to evaluate sleep disorder on day 21 after onset or later. In the group that had clear circadian rhythm, sleep disorder was found for 20.8%, but in the group that had unclear circadian rhythm, 63.6% had sleep disorder (P<0.05). At the acute stage of cerebral infarction, some patients had biological rhythm disorder which may be complicated with sleep disorder at the chronic stage, and it may inhibit QOL.
