At least one in three people with Type 2 diabetes mellitus referred to a diabetes centre has symptomatic obstructive sleep apnoea

AimsTo investigate the prevalence of symptomatic obstructive sleep apnoea in unselected patients with Type2 diabetes referred to a tertiary diabetes clinic. MethodsIn a cross-sectional design, all newly referred patients were offered a stepwise screening for obstructive sleep apnoea with: (1) The Berlin questionnaire; then, if indicative: (2) overnight home monitoring with the ApneaLink device. Patients with an apnoea-hypopnoea index 5/h were offered referral for diagnostic polygraphy and treatment initiation. ResultsA total of 200 patients participated (61% men; age 59.610.5years, diabetes duration 8.36.3years and BMI 31.76.7kg/m(2)). According to the questionnaire, 106 patients showed high risk' of obstructive sleep apnoea, and 72 of these were referred to polygraphy based on ApneaLink screening corresponding to a prevalence of symptomatic obstructive sleep apnoea of 39%. Patients with symptomatic obstructive sleep apnoea had significantly higher BMI, poorer glycaemic control and lower plasma HDL cholesterol levels as compared with patients unlikely to have obstructive sleep apnoea. The groups were not different with respect to sex, age, diabetes duration, blood pressure, diabetic complications or medication use. In multiple regression analyses, age, BMI and HDL cholesterol levels were all significant, independent predictors of obstructive sleep apnoea. ConclusionsAt least one third of people with Type2 diabetes referred to a diabetes clinic in Denmark has symptomatic obstructive sleep apnoea. Our data suggest higher age, a compromised plasma lipid profile and a more obese phenotype in patients with Type2 diabetes who have obstructive sleep apnoea, highlighting the need to focus on screening and treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea in these patients. What's new? <list list-type="bulleted" id="dme12477-list-0101"> At least one in three people with Type2 diabetes has symptomatic, yet undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnoeaan observation that calls for focus on systematic screening and treatment in diabetes clinics. Results are from a clinic-based cohort of newly referred people with Type2 diabetes and are therefore of high generalizability to other populations with Type2 diabetes attending diabetes clinics. Screening with ApneaLinka portable device for home useis feasible in people with Type2 diabetes.