Sleep apnoea and metabolic dysfunction

• Published in: European respiratory review Vol. 22; no. 129; pp. 353 - 364
• Main Authors: Bonsignore, Maria R, Borel, Anne-Laure, Machan, Elizabeth, Grunstein, Ron
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England European Respiratory Society 01.09.2013
• Subjects: Adipose Tissue - metabolism; Animals; Continuous Positive Airway Pressure; Humans; Lung - metabolism; Lung - physiopathology; Metabolic Syndrome - etiology; Metabolic Syndrome - metabolism; Metabolic Syndrome - physiopathology; Metabolic Syndrome - therapy; Obesity - complications; Obesity - metabolism; Obesity - physiopathology; Obesity - therapy; Respiration; Review; Risk Factors; Risk Reduction Behavior; Signal Transduction; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive - etiology; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive - metabolism; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive - physiopathology; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive - therapy; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0905-9180; 1600-0617; 1600-0617
• DOI: 10.1183/09059180.00003413

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a highly prevalent condition often associated with central obesity. In the past few years, several studies have analysed the potential independent contribution of OSA to the pathogenesis of metabolic abnormalities, including type 2 diabetes, the metabolic syndrome and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. New perspectives in OSA patient care have been opened by the promotion of lifestyle interventions, such as diet and exercise programmes that could improve both OSA and the metabolic profile. The rich clinical literature on this subject, together with the growing amount of data on pathophysiological mechanisms provided by animal studies using the chronic intermittent hypoxia model, urged the organising Committee of the Sleep and Breathing meeting to organise a session on sleep apnoea and metabolic dysfunction, in collaboration with the European Association for the Study of Diabetes. This review summarises the state-of-the-art lectures presented in the session, more specifically the relationship between OSA and diabetes, the role of OSA in the metabolic consequences of obesity, and the effects of lifestyle interventions on nocturnal respiratory disturbances and the metabolic profile in OSA patients.