A hospital based study of sleep in metabolic syndrome between obese & non obese North Indians

Metabolic syndrome's association with sleep apnoea is established. However, differences amongst obese and non-obese patients of metabolic syndrome are not clear. Methods: 50 consecutive patients fulfilling the criteria of metabolic syndrome as per revised National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Adult Treatment PANEL-3 guidelines were included. They were divided into two groups based on body mass index (BMI) as applicable in Asian Indians-Group I with BMI ≤25kg/m 2 and Group II with BMI >25kg/m 2 .Patients on CPAP therapy & having any other systemic diseases were excluded. All eligible patients underwent overnight polysomnography. Results: Demographically there was no difference between two groups. The mean BMI of group I & II were 23.20±1.68 kg/m 2, & 31.69±4.93 kg/m 2 respectively. Snoring, unrefreshing sleep & daytime sleepiness were the commonest presenting symptoms. Both groups had similar Epworth sleepiness scale. Diabetes & hypertension was significantly higher amongst group I & group II respectively. Both groups had similar sleep time & disribution of all stages of NREM sleep. Group I had insignificant less REM sleep (7.18±23.57 versus 14.12±24.96,pvalue>.05).Snoring time was significantly higher among group II (95.82±51.48 vs 44.76±29.96) and apneic episodes were common during NREM sleep in both groups. However the mean apnoea/hypoapnoea index (AHI) was similar in both groups (34.10±30.04 v/s 32.72±30.90; p value=0.607). Conclusion: The prevalence of sleep disordered breathing in selective North Indian population with metabolic syndrome irrespective of BMI was high. Community based epidemiological study is the need of hour to define the extent of the problem.