HIGH MICROANGIOPATHY PREVALENCE IN OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA COMORBID TYPE 2 DIABETES PATIENTS

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Sleep Medicine
• Nephrology

Background:

• Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a growing health concern globally.
• Microvascular complications, including retinopathy and chronic kidney disease (CKD), are significant comorbidities of T2DM.
• Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is increasingly recognized as a potential contributor to diabetic complications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of OSA in patients with T2DM.
• To evaluate the rate of microangiopathy in T2DM patients with and without OSA.
• To investigate the association between OSA severity and microangiopathy in T2DM patients.

Main Methods:

• A prospective cohort study was conducted with 232 T2DM patients at "Diacor" clinic in Tbilisi, Georgia.
• Patients were screened for OSA using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale; those scoring >11 were referred for polysomnography (PSG).
• Data collected included medical history, demographics, anthropometrics, laboratory tests (including microalbuminuria), and fundoscopy.

Main Results:

• OSA was diagnosed in 54 (23.27%) of the 232 T2DM patients.
• Among OSA patients, 22.22% had coexisting diabetic retinopathy and microalbuminuria, and 35.19% had diabetic retinopathy and CKD.
• The prevalence of coexisting diabetic retinopathy and CKD, and CKD alone, was significantly higher in patients with severe OSA compared to moderate or mild OSA.

Conclusions:

• OSA is highly prevalent in T2DM patients in Georgia.
• OSA is associated with a higher prevalence of microangiopathy, including diabetic retinopathy and CKD.
• Screening T2DM patients for OSA is recommended to mitigate the risk of associated microvascular complications.