Obstructive sleep apnoea is independently associated with an increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome

AIMS: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Although it was previously assumed that this was due to its relation with obesity, recent data suggest that OSA is independently associated with the cardiovascular risk factors that comprise metabolic syndrome, including hypertension, insulin resistance, impaired glucose tolerance, and dyslipidaemia. However, as previous studies have only considered these variables individually, it has not been possible to determine the overall association of OSA with this syndrome. METHODS AND RESULTS: We recruited 61 male subjects with OSA and 43 controls. Glucose, insulin, lipids, and blood pressure (BP) were measured…