The risk of obstructive sleep apnea among patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Context/Aims: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and Type 2 diabetes mellitus share obesity as a common risk factor. The presence of OSA may contribute to increased morbidity and mortality of diabetes. Despite their close association, OSA is not routinely evaluated in diabetic patients. This study was conducted to determine the risk of OSA among Type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. Methods: Type 2 diabetic patients attending a tertiary hospital in Nigeria were evaluated for OSA risk using the Berlin Questionnaire. Other parameters measured included anthropometry and blood pressure (BP). Results: Three hundred and twenty‑seven patients participated in this survey: 177 (54.1%) were female and 150 (45.9%) were male. The average age of the patients was 56.2 ± 9.3 years. Seventy‑eight (44.8%) females were obese compared to 30 (20.0%) males, P < 0.001. Two hundred and one (61.5%) patients were previously known hypertensives with only 48 (23.9%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 18.2–30.4) of them having good BP control. One hundred and sixty‑two (49.5%, 95% CI; 44.0–55.1) patients had a high risk for OSA: 96 (54.2%; 95% CI: 44.6–61.7) females and 66 (44.0%; 95% CI: 35.9–52.3) males. The strongest predictor for a high risk of OSA was poorly controlled BP with an odds ratio of 2.6 (95% CI: 1.6–4.3). Conclusion: This study has demonstrated that there is a high risk of OSA among Type 2 diabetic patients and that OSA risk is significantly associated with poor BP control and obesity. We recommend that diabetic patients should be assessed for OSA risk as part of their routine evaluation.