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Sleepiness as a marker of glucose deregulation in obstructive sleep apnea

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Abstract

Background

Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is a major but not universally present feature of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). The latter has been associated with glucose dysmetabolism and insulin resistance. The aim of this study was to examine the role of EDS by investigating potential differences between somnolent and non-somnolent OSAS patients in glucose metabolism, insulin resistance, and levels of cardiovascular risk factors.

Methods

Included were 25 newly diagnosed otherwise healthy OSAS patients, reporting EDS (ESS ≥ 11) and 25 age- and BMI-matched, non-somnolent (ESS ≤ 10) OSAS patients, who served as controls. Fasting glucose and insulin levels, as well as homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMAIR) index, levels of hs-CRP, and lipidemic profile were measured.

Results

The two groups did not differ in anthropometric or sleep characteristics. A significant correlation of ESS with glucose (p = 0.004), insulin (p = 0.011), and HOMAIR (p = 0.031) was observed. Somnolent patients had higher levels of glucose (p = 0.045), insulin (p = 0.012), and HOMAIR (p = 0.027). No difference was detected in other markers between the two groups.

Conclusions

Daytime sleepiness in OSAS patients is associated with hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia. These results suggest its potential use as a surrogate marker of insulin resistance in such patients.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pneumonology, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece

    Evangelia Nena, Paschalis Steiropoulos, Marios E. Froudarakis & Demosthenes Bouros

  2. Second Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece

    Nikolaos Papanas & Efstratios Maltezos

  3. Sleep Unit, Second Chest Department, “George Papanikolaou” General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Venetia Tsara

  4. Laboratory of Biochemistry, “George Papanikolaou” General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Christina Fitili

  5. Department of Pneumonology, Medical School, University Hospital of Alexandroupolis, 68100, Alexandroupolis, Greece

    Evangelia Nena

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  1. Evangelia Nena
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  2. Paschalis Steiropoulos
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  4. Venetia Tsara
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  6. Marios E. Froudarakis
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  8. Demosthenes Bouros
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Correspondence to Evangelia Nena.

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Nena, E., Steiropoulos, P., Papanas, N. et al. Sleepiness as a marker of glucose deregulation in obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep Breath 16, 181–186 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-010-0472-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-010-0472-y

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