Abstract:
: Obstructive sleep apnoea can be considered as a hidden killer in our society due to
lack of awareness and research, despite its multiple comorbidities and complications like diabetes,
cardiovascular diseases and sudden deaths. Studies are showing conflicting results for relationship of
apnoea and glucose metabolism. The objective of this study was to explore a possible association
between obstructive sleep apnoea and glucose metabolism in our local population. Methods:
Potential case subjects were scrutinized from Sleep laboratory. Verbal and written informed consent,
physical examination, history and Epworth sleep scale score calculation was carried out. After
overnight polysomnography, 50 confirmed sleep apnoea subjects were selected. 50 matched controls,
without any sleep related complain were selected after informed consent, history and physical
examination. Fasting blood sample was collected from all. Blood sugar levels were compared in both
groups. Comparison was also done with severity of apnoea in mild, moderate and severe apnoea
patients. Results: The mean fasting blood sugar was significantly higher in cases (p=0.007).
Frequency of population with impaired glucose metabolism was also significantly higher in OSA
group (p=0.001). Disturbed glucose metabolism was also found to be associated with severity of
apnoea, it was 32% in controls while 50%, 76.5% and 61.9% in mild, moderate and severe apnoea
respectively. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that obstructive sleep apnoea is associated with a
higher disturbance in glucose metabolism; it is also associated with severity of OSA in our
population.
