Evaluation of Anthropometric and Metabolic Parameters in Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Abstract EN

Aims.

Sleep disorders have recently become a significant public health problem worldwide and have deleterious health consequences.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common type of sleep-related breathing disorders.

We aimed to evaluate anthropometric measurements, glucose metabolism, and cortisol levels in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Materials and Methods.

A total of 50 patients with a body mass index ≥30 and major OSA symptoms were included in this study.

Anthropometric measurements of the patients were recorded and blood samples were drawn for laboratory analysis.

A 24-hour urine sample was also collected from each subject for measurement of 24-hour cortisol excretion.

Patients were divided equally into 2 groups according to polysomnography results: control group with an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) <5 (n=25) and OSA group with an AHI ≥5 (n=25).

Results.

Neck and waist circumference, fasting plasma glucose, HbA1c, late-night serum cortisol, morning serum cortisol after 1 mg dexamethasone suppression test, and 24-hour urinary cortisol levels were significantly higher in OSA patients compared to control subjects.

Newly diagnosed DM was more frequent in patients with OSA than control subjects (32% versus 8%, p=0.034).

There was a significant positive correlation between AHI and neck circumference, glucose, and late-night serum cortisol.

Conclusions.

Our study indicates that increased waist and neck circumferences constitute a risk for OSA regardless of obesity status.

In addition, OSA has adverse effects on endocrine function and glucose metabolism.