Prevalence of sleep apnoea in patients with type 1 diabetes and its association with comorbidities and diabetic complications: A French nationwide prospective study

AIM

To investigate sleep apnoea prevalence, factors influencing severity, and associations between sleep apnoea severity and micro-/macrovascular complications in a large population of patients with type 1 diabetes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This French multicentre prospective cohort study was conducted between July 2016 and June 2020. Adults with type 1 diabetes using an insulin pump were eligible. Home care provider nurses collected demographic and clinical data and set up oximetry to determine the oxygen desaturation index (ODI). No, mild-moderate and severe sleep apnoea were defined as ODI <15 events/h, 15 to <30 events/h and ≥30 events/h, respectively. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify factors associated with sleep apnoea, and associations between sleep apnoea severity and micro-/macrovascular complications were determined using logistic regression.

RESULTS

Of 769 participants, 12.4% and 3.4% had mild-to-moderate or severe sleep apnoea, respectively. Factors significantly associated with sleep apnoea on multivariate analysis were age, sex, body mass index (BMI) and hypertension. After adjustment for age, sex and BMI, presence of severe sleep apnoea was significantly associated with macrovascular complications (odds ratio vs. no sleep apnoea: 3.96 [95% confidence interval 1.43-11.11]; P < 0.01), while mild-to-moderate sleep apnoea was significantly associated with presence of diabetic retinopathy (odds ratio 2.09 [95% confidence interval 1.10-3.74]; P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Sleep apnoea is a significant comorbidity in patients with type 1 diabetes, especially with respect to diabetic complications. This highlights the need for sleep apnoea screening and management in these individuals.