Publication:

Insulin resistance and affecting factors in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

Background Metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance are common in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) independently of obesity. This study aims to examine and evaluate the insulin resistance and the factors affecting the insulin resistance in patients with OSAS.

Methods Patients admitted to the sleep disorders clinic of our hospital with snoring complaints and diagnosed with OSAS in the last 6 months were included to the study. Insulin resistance was calculated by the Homa-IR formula. >2.7 was considered insulin resistance.

Results The mean Homa-IR value was 3.86±4.69 and 42 (49.4%) patients were found to have insulin resistance. Mean insulin resistance was 2.68±2.2 in normal weight patients, 2.30±1.41 in overweight patients, 3.96±1.83 in obese patients, and 8.61±12.13 in morbid obese patients. The mean apnea hypopnea index of the patients was 22.95±15.20; 30 (35.2%) were with mild, 26 (30.6%) were with moderate and 29 (34.1%) were with severe OSAS. Insulin resistance was 2.35±1.36 in patients with mild AHI; 3.09±1.30 in patients with moderate AHI, and 6.11±7.35 in severe cases. In our study, the most significant relationship was found to be between insulin resistance in OSAS patients with insulin resistance and BMI and AHI.

Conclusions Insulin resistance is common in patients with OSAS independently of obesity. In our study, BMI and AHI were found to be the most important factors associated with insulin resistance in patients with OSAS.