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Development of proliferative diabetic retinopathy may be linked to sleep-disordered breathing
Am J Ophthalmol. 2009;147(6):1017-1021.
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Sleep-disordered breathing may contribute to the development of proliferative diabetic retinopathy, according to a study.
"Our results suggest that, in diabetic retinopathy patients with nocturnal desaturation, reoxygenation caused by [sleep-disordered breathing] may relate to the development of [proliferative diabetic retinopathy]," the study authors said.
The cross-sectional case-control study included 48 patients with nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy and 118 patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Investigators conducted pulse oximetry nightly and calculated the sleeping 4% oxygen desaturation index. Sleep-disordered breathing was diagnosed in cases of the 4% oxygen desaturation index exceeding five times per hour.
Also, investigators used multiple regression analysis to make associations between other background factors and diagnoses of proliferative diabetic retinopathy.
Study data showed that 29% of nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy patients and 48% of proliferative diabetic retinopathy patients were diagnosed with sleep-disordered breathing. Patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy had a higher incidence of 4% oxygen desaturation index (P = .003) than those with nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (P = .03). Younger age and a higher 4% oxygen desaturation index value contributed independently to a diagnosis of proliferative diabetic retinopathy, the authors said.