Obstructive sleep apnea intensifies stroke severity following middle cerebral artery occlusion.

•Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) confers risk for a wide range of clinical disorders including cerebrovascular disease.•We created a 3D printed OSA platform which includes respiratory efforts in addition to diminished sPO2.•OSA stress increased the severity of brain injury and neurological scores in experimental stroke.•OSA represents an important co-morbid risk for neurological/neurodegenerative stress and cardiovascular disease.