Improvement of metabolic function in sleep apnea: the power of positive pressure

Effect of CPAP on insulin resistance and HbA1c in men with obstructive sleep apnoea and type 2 diabetes

BACKGROUND

The effects of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) for obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) on insulin resistance are not clear. Trials have found conflicting results and no appropriate control groups have been used.

METHODS

Forty-two men with known type 2 diabetes and newly diagnosed OSA (>10 dips/h in oxygen saturation of >4%) were randomised to receive therapeutic (n = 20) or placebo CPAP (n = 22) for 3 months. Baseline tests were performed and repeated after 3 months. The study was double blind.

RESULTS

Results are expressed as mean (SD). CPAP improved the Epworth sleepiness score significantly more in the therapeutic group than in the placebo group (-6.6 (4.5) vs -2.6 (4.9), p = 0.01). The maintenance of wakefulness test improved significantly in the therapeutic group but not in the placebo group (+10.6 (13.9) vs -4.7 (11.8) min, p = 0.001). Glycaemic control and insulin resistance did not significantly change in either the therapeutic or placebo groups: HbA1c (-0.02 (1.5) vs +0.1 (0.7), p = 0.7, 95% CI -0.6% to +0.9%), euglycaemic clamp (M/I: +1.7 (14.1) vs -5.7 (14.8), p = 0.2, 95% CI -1.8 to +0.3 l/kg/min(1000)), HOMA-%S (-1.5 (2.3) vs -1.1 (1.8), p = 0.2, 95% CI -0.3% to +0.08%) and adiponectin (-1.1 (1.2) vs -1.1 (1.3), p = 0.2, 95% CI -0.7 to +0.6 microg/ml). Body mass index, bioimpedance and anthropometric measurements were unchanged. Hours of CPAP use per night were 3.6 (2.8) in the treatment group and 3.3 (3.0) in the placebo group (p = 0.8). There was no correlation between CPAP use and the measures of glycaemic control or insulin resistance.

CONCLUSION

Therapeutic CPAP does not significantly improve measures of glycaemic control or insulin resistance in men with type 2 diabetes and OSA.

Obesity, metabolic syndrome and sleep apnoea: all pro-inflammatory states

Obesity is associated with significant morbidity and mortality and is increasing in prevalence worldwide. Associated conditions include insulin resistance (IR), diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidaemia; a clustering of these has recently been termed as metabolic syndrome. Weight gain is a major predictor of the metabolic syndrome with waist circumference being a more sensitive indicator than body mass index as it reflects both abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue and visceral adipose tissue (VAT). VAT has more metabolic activity and secretes a number of hormones and pro-inflammatory cytokines which are linked with the metabolic abnormalities listed above. Central obesity also increases the risk of obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS), where the sleep disordered breathing may also independently lead to/or exacerbate IR, diabetes and cardiovascular risk. The contribution of OSAS to the metabolic syndrome has been under-recognized. The putative mechanisms by which OSAS causes or exacerbates these other abnormalities are discussed. We propose that activation of nuclear factor kappa B by stress hypoxia and/or by increased adipokines and free fatty acids released by excess adipose tissue is the final common inflammatory pathway linking obesity, OSAS and the metabolic syndrome both individually and, in many cases, synergistically.