Background: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and metabolic syndrome have a strong association with each other. There is also evidence, of varying strengths, from epidemiologic and clinical studies about the independent association between OSAS and individual core components of the metabolic syndrome.
Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its individual components in patients with OSAS.
Methods: An observational hospital-based study was conducted where 53 patients with symptoms of OSAS were included. Limited sleep study was conducted for each patient and OSAS was diagnosed if apnea–hypopnea index was 5 or more. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed as per the definition by National Cholesterol Education Program, Adult Treatment Panel III. Analysis was then carried out to find out the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its individual components in OSAS.
Results: Of the 53 patients recruited, 42(79%) had OSAS. Among this group of 53 patients, 38 patients (71.6%) had metabolic syndrome, 35 patients (66.03%) had systemic hypertension, 25 patients (47.2%) had diabetes mellitus or an impaired glucose tolerance, 42 patients (79.2%) had dyslipidemia, and 47 patients (88.6%) had abdominal obesity. With the exception of diabetes mellitus/impaired glucose tolerance, the prevalence of remaining conditions was found to be higher in those with moderate-to-severe OSAS than in those with mild OSAS.
Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of metabolic syndrome as well as its individual components among OSAS patients and the prevalence increases with the severity of OSA.
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