Relation between the Severity of Obstructive Sleep Apnea and the Severity of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Hypertension

Abstract

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) may promote hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and hypertension (HTN). Purpose: To evaluate if there is a relationship between the severity of OSA and the severity of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and HTN in our patients, aiming to understand and optimize the control for comorbidities. Materials and Methods: Patients referred for polysomnography (PSG) were retrospectively recruited during the period from October 2017 to August 2020. A STOP-BANG questionnaire formed eight questions was used to assess the risk of OSAS. We divided the patients into two groups; group 1, who have snoring without T2DM, and group 2, who have snoring with T2DM. PSG was completed for all subjects and data were collected for each patient including apnoea hypopnea index (AHI), mean arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2), and Nadir SaO2 recorded during PSG. Anthropometric data, medical history, and medications for T2DM (for group 2) and HTN and HbA1c were collected (for group 2). AHI was used to evaluate the severity of OSA and its relation to T2DM and HTN. Results: The study included 300 patients who met the inclusion criteria with mean age of 49.9 ± 13.6 years. The majority of subjects (56.3%) were males and the mean body mass index (BMI) was 38.0 ± 8.4 kg/m2. Forty-two percent had HTN and 32.7% had T2DM. OSA was diagnosed in 209 patients (69.7%). OSA was more detected among those with increased age, increased BMI, and those with HTN and T2DM. The severity of both HTN and T2DM was significantly higher among patients with OSA. Conclusions: There is a relation between OSA and T2DM and HTN. The risk of OSA is higher among patients with uncontrolled T2DM and HTN. OSA should be suspected in subjects with obesity, especially with uncontrolled HTN and T2DM.