NoSAS score and the 5-year risk of incident cerebrovascular disease: a retrospective cohort study

Objectives Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common but often underdiagnosed disorder linked to various adverse health outcomes, especially cerebrovascular events. This study aims to evaluate the utility of the NoSAS score in screening for high risk of cerebrovascular disease, facilitating early identification and improving clinical management of OSA in susceptible populations. Methods This retrospective study enrolled patients from two sleep centers who underwent sleep apnea monitoring between September 2016 and December 2019. Individuals with pre-existing cerebrovascular disease were excluded from the study. Follow-up data on 5-year incident cerebrovascular events were collected via medical records or telephone interviews. Cerebrovascular events were primarily identified based on patient self-report and available clinical documentation; systematic neuroimaging confirmation was not routinely available. Participants were categorized by NoSAS score into high-risk (≥8) and low-risk (