Sleep Questionnaires for the screening of obstructive sleep apnea in patients with type 2 diabetes compared with non diabetic patients

Several screening tools have been used for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) screening. The evaluation of the predictive performance of different questionnaires is essential in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) as the prevalence of OSA in this population is high. The aim of the study was to evaluate different sleep questionnaires for the identification of T2D patients with OSA and to compare their predictive values with a matched sample of non diabetic patients.

Retrospective study of 2 groups of patients (n=350 with T2D vs. n=350 without T2D) visiting a Sleep Clinic matched by age, gender, body mass index (BMI) and Apnea Hypopnea Index (AHI). OSA symptoms, Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), STOP BANG (S-B), Berlin Questionnaire (BQ) and Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) were compared. Sleep studies were performed.

OSA patients with T2D complained more frequently of nocturia (p=0.025), morning headaches (p=0.04), restless sleep (p=0.002) and leg movements (p=0.01). The majority of the predictive values of sleep questionnaires did not differ significantly between the two groups. AIS was higher only in T2D women (p=0.01). BQ and S-B presented the highest sensitivities in both groups; ESS had the highest specificity in T2D patients whereas STOP and S-B in those without T2D.

The predictive performance of the questionnaires was almost similar in both groups especially in moderate and severe OSA. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Journal of diabetes. 2018 Aug 07 [Epub ahead of print]

Athanasia Pataka, George Kalamaras, Efi Daskalopoulou, Paraskevi Argyropoulou

Respiratory Failure Unit, G Papanikolaou Hospital, Thessaloniki Greece, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki., Department of Sleep Medicine, Saint Paul Hospital Thessaloniki.