In males with type 2 diabetes, subcutaneous abdominal fat was associated with moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea (OR 1.23/L; 95% CI 1.01-1.49; p=0.049) prior to BMI adjustment.
Cross-Sectional (n=164)
Is abdominal fat distribution associated with obstructive sleep apnea severity in patients with type 2 diabetes?
Abdominal fat volumes are associated with higher OSA severity in males with type 2 diabetes, but this relationship is largely driven by overall BMI rather than specific fat distribution.
Odds Ratio: 1.23 (95% CI 1.01–1.49)
p-value: p=0.049
Abstract Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) affects 1 billion people globally, with a male-to-female ratio of 2:1. While obesity is a major risk factor, sex differences in fat distribution may influence OSA risk. This study examined the relationship between visceral (VAT), subcutaneous (ASAT), and total abdominal fat (TAAT) and OSA severity in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). We enrolled 164 T2DM patients (97 males, 67 females) from the EPSONIP-Sleep study; 151 had complete MRI and polygraphy data. OSA severity was evaluated by home respiratory polygraphy. Linear regression assessed AHI, logistic regression assessed moderate-to-severe OSA, and the Kruskal–Wallis test compared AHI across VAT-z/ASAT-z strata. In males, VAT, ASAT, and TAAT were associated with AHI in unadjusted analyses (β = 1.3, p = 0.009; β = 1.5, p = 0.010; β = 0.85, p = 0.009, respectively). ASAT (OR = 1.23/L, 95% CI 1.01–1.49, p = 0.049) and TAAT (OR = 1.10/L, 95% CI 1.00–1.22, p = 0.02), but not VAT, were associated with moderate-to-severe OSA. No statistically significant associations were detected in females. Associations were attenuated after BMI adjustment. AHI did not differ across VAT-z/ASAT-z strata ( p = 0.430). Sex differences influenced the relationship between fat and OSA severity. In males, abdominal fat volumes were associated with higher OSA severity in unadjusted analyses, but not after BMI adjustment. No statistically significant associations were detected in females. These findings should be interpreted cautiously given the modest sample size.
Ahtola et al. (Mon,) conducted a cross-sectional in Type 2 diabetes and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (n=164). Abdominal fat distribution (visceral, subcutaneous, and total) was evaluated on Moderate-to-severe OSA (OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.01-1.49, p=0.049). In males with type 2 diabetes, subcutaneous abdominal fat was associated with moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea (OR 1.23/L; 95% CI 1.01-1.49; p=0.049) prior to BMI adjustment.