Women with OSA have higher chances of having metabolic syndrome than men: effect of gender on syndrome Z in cross sectional study

Abstract

Study objectives: This study was done to find out prevalence of Metabolic syndrome (MS) in patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and whether there is any difference in prevalence of syndrome Z in male and female.

Methodology: All consecutive diagnosed patients with OSA between June 2015 and Oct 2019 were screened for metabolic syndrome and factors associated with metabolic syndrome in OSA were analyzed.

Results: During study period, 502 patients (357 males; 145 females) were diagnosed with OSA. Mean age was 51.88 ± 12.18 years (females and males:55.91 ± 9.74 and 50.24 ± 12.70 years, respectively). Mean BMI was 31.60 ± 11.09 kg/m² (female: 35.29 ± 7.19 and male: 30.1 ± 12.0 kg/m²) (p < 0.001). Mean AHI was 62.67 ± 35.22. Mild, moderate and severe category of OSA constituted 7.3%, 15.3% and 77.4% respectively. MS was found in 72.7% (365 out of 502) individuals with OSA. MS was found in 75.8%, 68.4 and 48.7% in severe, moderate and mild OSA patients respectively (p < 0.001). Females OSA patients had significantly high percentage (88.27%) of metabolic syndrome compared to males OSA patients (66.38%) {p < 0.001}. Female patients with SZ had higher metabolic score (p = 0.019) and were older (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Metabolic syndrome is highly prevalent in OSA population (72.7%) and is much more common in female OSA patients (88%) than males OSA (68%). All OSA patients should be screened for MS so that early intervention can be done in these patients so as to prevent cardiovascular complications.

Keywords: Continuous positive airway pressure; Metabolic syndrome; Obstructive sleep apnoea.