Sleep regularity index as a novel indicator of sleep disturbance in stroke survivors: a secondary data analysis

Abstract Sleep disturbance is common but often overlooked after stroke. Regular sleep is increasingly recognised as important for overall health, yet little is known about how sleep regularity changes after stroke. This study examined differences in the Sleep Regularity Index (SRI) between stroke su...

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Main Authors: Katrijn B. Schruers, Matthew Weightman, Anna á V. Guttesen, Barbara Robinson, Heidi Johansen-Berg, Melanie K. Fleming
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-05-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-01332-4
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author Katrijn B. Schruers
Matthew Weightman
Anna á V. Guttesen
Barbara Robinson
Heidi Johansen-Berg
Melanie K. Fleming
author_facet Katrijn B. Schruers
Matthew Weightman
Anna á V. Guttesen
Barbara Robinson
Heidi Johansen-Berg
Melanie K. Fleming
author_sort Katrijn B. Schruers
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Sleep disturbance is common but often overlooked after stroke. Regular sleep is increasingly recognised as important for overall health, yet little is known about how sleep regularity changes after stroke. This study examined differences in the Sleep Regularity Index (SRI) between stroke survivors and healthy controls using actigraphy data from an existing dataset (~ 1 week per participant). Data were analysed for 162 stroke survivors (mean age 61 ± 14 years, 5 ± 5 years post-stroke, 89 males) and 60 controls (mean age 57 ± 17 years, 32 males). Stroke survivors had significantly lower SRI scores than controls (p = 0.001), indicating less regular sleep. In the stroke group, higher SRI correlated with longer total sleep time (p = 0.003) and better self-reported sleep quality (p = 0.001) but not with other sleep metrics. Lower SRI was associated with worse depressive symptoms (p = 0.006) and lower quality of life (p = 0.001) but not with disability (p = 0.886) or time since stroke (p = 0.646). These findings suggest that sleep regularity is disrupted post-stroke and may influence well-being. Future research should explore interventions to improve sleep regularity and related health outcomes in stroke survivors.
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spelling doaj-art-14f6b2693e444197a45bcd2beb4716d52025-08-20T03:48:19ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-05-0115111210.1038/s41598-025-01332-4Sleep regularity index as a novel indicator of sleep disturbance in stroke survivors: a secondary data analysisKatrijn B. Schruers0Matthew Weightman1Anna á V. Guttesen2Barbara Robinson3Heidi Johansen-Berg4Melanie K. Fleming5Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging (WIN), FMRIB, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of OxfordNuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging (WIN), FMRIB, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of OxfordNuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging (WIN), FMRIB, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of OxfordNuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging (WIN), FMRIB, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of OxfordNuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging (WIN), FMRIB, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of OxfordNuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging (WIN), FMRIB, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of OxfordAbstract Sleep disturbance is common but often overlooked after stroke. Regular sleep is increasingly recognised as important for overall health, yet little is known about how sleep regularity changes after stroke. This study examined differences in the Sleep Regularity Index (SRI) between stroke survivors and healthy controls using actigraphy data from an existing dataset (~ 1 week per participant). Data were analysed for 162 stroke survivors (mean age 61 ± 14 years, 5 ± 5 years post-stroke, 89 males) and 60 controls (mean age 57 ± 17 years, 32 males). Stroke survivors had significantly lower SRI scores than controls (p = 0.001), indicating less regular sleep. In the stroke group, higher SRI correlated with longer total sleep time (p = 0.003) and better self-reported sleep quality (p = 0.001) but not with other sleep metrics. Lower SRI was associated with worse depressive symptoms (p = 0.006) and lower quality of life (p = 0.001) but not with disability (p = 0.886) or time since stroke (p = 0.646). These findings suggest that sleep regularity is disrupted post-stroke and may influence well-being. Future research should explore interventions to improve sleep regularity and related health outcomes in stroke survivors.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-01332-4ActigraphySleep-wake patternsCircadian rhythmQuality of lifePost-stroke recovery
spellingShingle Katrijn B. Schruers
Matthew Weightman
Anna á V. Guttesen
Barbara Robinson
Heidi Johansen-Berg
Melanie K. Fleming
Sleep regularity index as a novel indicator of sleep disturbance in stroke survivors: a secondary data analysis
Scientific Reports
Actigraphy
Sleep-wake patterns
Circadian rhythm
Quality of life
Post-stroke recovery
title Sleep regularity index as a novel indicator of sleep disturbance in stroke survivors: a secondary data analysis
title_full Sleep regularity index as a novel indicator of sleep disturbance in stroke survivors: a secondary data analysis
title_fullStr Sleep regularity index as a novel indicator of sleep disturbance in stroke survivors: a secondary data analysis
title_full_unstemmed Sleep regularity index as a novel indicator of sleep disturbance in stroke survivors: a secondary data analysis
title_short Sleep regularity index as a novel indicator of sleep disturbance in stroke survivors: a secondary data analysis
title_sort sleep regularity index as a novel indicator of sleep disturbance in stroke survivors a secondary data analysis
topic Actigraphy
Sleep-wake patterns
Circadian rhythm
Quality of life
Post-stroke recovery
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-01332-4
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