Cardiovascular risk associated with co-morbid insomnia and sleep apnoea (COMISA) in type 2 diabetics

In the general population, co-morbid insomnia and sleep apnoea (COMISA) is associated with higher risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). However, despite a high prevalence of COMISA in type 2 diabetics, no study has investigated its potential implication in the negative cardiovascular outcome of this particular subpopulation. The aim of this study was therefore to examine the risk of CVD associated with COMISA in type 2 diabetics.

Data from 471 type 2 diabetics recruited from the clinical database of the Erasme Hospital sleep laboratory were analysed. Only type 2 diabetics with SCORE index ≥5% were included in the group at high risk of CVD. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the risk of CVD associated with COMISA in type 2 diabetics.

A high risk of CVD was present in 32.9% of type 2 diabetics. After adjustment for the main confounding factors associated with cardiovascular risk, multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that unlike obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome or insomnia alone, only COMISA was associated with higher risk of CVD in type 2 diabetics.

In our study, we have demonstrated that unlike its components alone, only COMISA was associated with higher risk of CVD in type 2 diabetics, which highlights the importance of the central role played by the negative synergistic effect of COMISA on the cardiovascular outcome in this particular subpopulation. Thus, given these elements, more systematic research and adequate therapeutic management of COMISA seem to be necessary to allow better cardiovascular prevention in type 2 diabetics.