To study the influence of obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) on glucose metabolism and comprehensively analyze its related factors.

A total of 180 snoring patients were recruited in Sleep Disorder Center of Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University between January 2010 to June 2011. There were140 patients with OSAHS and 40 subjects without OSAHS. All patients underwent both a full polysomnography (PSG) and plasma glucose measure, including fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). The FPG, 1-hour post-challenge glucose (1hPG) and 2-hour post-challenge glucose (2hPG) were respectively compared in patients with different apnea hypopnea index (AHI), the lowest saturation of pulse oximetry (SpO₂) and sleep architecture.

The incidence of glucose metabolism disorders was higher in patients with OSAHS than that of those without (diabetes: 21.4% vs 5.0%; prediabetes: 34.3% vs 25.0%). The FPG, 1hPG and 2hPG in patients with different AHI was significantly different respectively (all P<0.01), so as in patients with different lowest oxygen saturation (all P<0.01). Post-load glucose levels of patients with different AHI were still significantly different after adjustment for neck circumference (1hPG: P=0.004; 2hPG: P=0.048). FPG, 1hPG and 2hPG were associated with AHI (r=0.167, 0.277, 0.196, all P<0.05), mean SpO₂(r=-0.154, -0.214, -0.182, all P<0.05) and the lowest SpO₂ (r=-0.224, -0.231, -0.159, all P<0.05); While FPG, 1hPG and 2hPG were not significantly associated with N1+N2, N3 and rapid eye movement (REM) sleeps (all P>0.05).

The risk of glucose metabolism disorders increased with the severity of OSAHS. Compared with fasting glucose, post-load glucose was more affected by OSAHS independent of obesity. Compared with sleep architecture or sleep efficiency, glucose metabolism disorders seem to be associated with hypoxia caused by OSAHS.

Sleep apnea, obstructive; Blood glucose; Oxygen saturation; Sleep structure