ABSTRACT
Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and type 2 diabetes mellitus have a major health impact because of their high prevalence worldwide. Obesity is a common risk factor for both OSA and type 2 diabetes mellitus in middle-aged persons. Aim: This study was conducted to assess the risk of OSA in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed at the tertiary care center of Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Burla, Odisha, India. Type 2 diabetic patients were evaluated to assess the risk of OSA using the STOP-BANG sleep apnea questionnaire (consisting of eight questions). Results: Of the 150 type 2 diabetic patients, 53.8% had low risk, 28.6% had intermediate risk, and 17.6% had a severe risk for OSA based on questionnaires. Patients with comorbid conditions like hypertension (odds ratio 1.5) and obesity (odds ratio 1.06) have a high risk of OSA. There was a significant relationship between the type of medication and the risk of developing OSA (P < 0.05) in diabetic patients. The patients taking both insulin and oral drugs have a high-risk OSA as compared to those taking only insulin or only oral drugs. Conclusion: The prevalence of OSA is much higher in diabetics than in the general population, the risk is increasing with comorbid conditions like obesity and hypertension, patients who are receiving both oral hypoglycemic drugs and insulin. The screening of OSA among diabetic patients is necessary to identify those at high risk and manage this problem, which may remain undiagnosed in many patients.