Screening for Comorbidities in Obstructive Sleep Apnea

• Main Authors: Sheikh Shoib, Javid Ahmad Malik, Shariq Rashid Masoodi, Aatif Rashid
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: JCDR Research and Publications Private Limited 2018-01-01
• Series: Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research
• Subjects: hypertension; polysomnography; type 2 diabetes
• Online Access: https://jcdr.net/articles/PDF/11071/27635_CE(Ra1)_F(SS)_PF1(PB_AP)_PFA(GG_MJ_AnG)_PN(AP)_PF2(SH_OM).pdf
• ISSN: 2249-782X; 0973-709X

Introduction: Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder among middle-aged adults which often results in a wide range of co-morbid conditions, predominantly of the cardiovascular/respiratory, endocrine/metabolic and neuropsychiatric manifestations. These comorbidities pose a significant burden on health care and considerably influence the disease as well. Aim: To look for any association between obstructive sleep apnea and other comorbidities and to study the prevalence of these comorbidities in patients suffering from obstructive sleep apnea. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed at the Modern hospital, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India, on patients that were referred from various subspecialty clinics from July 2011 to August 2012. Polysomnography studies were performed in152 patients identified as having OSA (71 men and 81 women). Statistical analysis was performed by means of the computer program SPSS using a t-test for independent groups, a probability value of 0.05 was considered significant. Results: A total of 152 patients were identified as having OSA (71 men and 81 women) with a mean age (±SD) of 54.1 years (±13.6). Various comorbidities were found in 60.5% patients diagnosed with OSA. 59.2% of men and 61.7% of women with OSA had comorbidities. The individual prevalence of each comorbidity in order of decreasing prevalence was hypertension (63.2%), endocrine disorders (40.8%), coronary artery diseases (9.2%), depression (11.2%), dysthymia (5.3%), hypercholesterolemia (5.9%), asthma (7.9%), and approximately 19.7% had no comorbidities”. (χ2 : 13.2, df: 3, P: 0.004 (S). Conclusion: This study demonstrates significant overlap between sleep apnea and multiple medical comorbidities. Understanding of various co-morbid conditions associated with OSA and their clinical consequences helps in prevention, early identification and improving the quality of life of these patients. Clinicians need more information about screening for these diseases in patients with OSA to ensure proper diagnosis and treatment of those with these conditions.