[Relationship between proliferative diabetic retinopathy and sleep-disordered breathing].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) patients and clarify the relationship between SDB and PDR.


METHODS
Sixty-four PDR patients who had undergone vitrectomy in our hospital were included in this study. Forty-two patients were male, and 22 were female. Pulseoximetry was conducted during the nighttime; the sleeping 3% oxygen desaturation index (ODI/h) was calculated. If ODI was > or = 10/h, SDB was diagnosed. Blood glucose control and the presence of hypertension and albuminuria were evaluated and compared between the SDB and non-SDB groups.


RESULTS
Fifty percent of male patients, 27% of female patients and 42% of all PDR patients were diagnosed as having SDB. The presence of hypertension and albuminuria was 96% and 74%, respectively, in the SDB group, both significantly higher than in the non-SDB group. There were no significant differences between the two groups in preoperative HbAlc levels. However, compared with the non-SDB group, the prevalence of insulin therapy was significantly higher in the SDB group.


CONCLUSIONS
PDR cases had a high frequency of SDB. It appears that SDB might hamper blood glucose control, raise the occurrence of hypertension and albuminuria, and is thus related to the progression of diabetic retinopathy.
Department of Ophthalmology, Toho University Sakura Medical Center, Chiba 285-8741, Japan.
Tomoaki
T
Shiba
Yukihiro
Y
Sato
Mao
M
Takahashi
D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000150:complications*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000150:complications*