%0 Journal Article %A Mohammed Al-Abri %A Hussain Al-Lawati %A Yousef Al-Alawi %A Abdullah Al-Manairi %T Oxygen desaturation is associated with diabetes mellitus in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea %D 2011 %J European Respiratory Journal %P p2268 %V 38 %N Suppl 55 %X Objective: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is associated with impaired glycaemic control. The aim of the study was to evaluate the contribution of oxygen desaturation in the association of diabetes mellitus (DM) OSA.Methods: The study was conducted retrospectively between January 2008 and May 2010 in sultan Qaboos University Hospital, department of clinical physiology. The data were collected using electronic medical records and sleep study report. Desaturation index (DI) was calculated by the number of desaturation dips from wakefulness level in addition to SaO2 < 90%.Results: The total number of cases was 180 (116 males & 64 females) with mean age of 43±17 years. Female patients were more obese than males (BMI= 37.2±10.3 kg/m2, 32.7±8.2 kg/m2 respectively, P=0.005). The mean apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) was 31±31 and mean Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) was 11±5. There was significant association between diabetes mellitus (DM) and AHI (median for diabetic 39 Vs 18 for non-diabetic, p=0.03). Furthermore, there was significant association between diabetes and oxygen desaturation index (median for diabetic 25 Vs 9.6 for non diabetic p=0.02) and it becomes more significant with severe desaturation (SaO2 <90%) (median for diabetic was 50 Vs 4 for non diabetic p=0.002).There was weak association between body mass index and DM (p=0.05) in this population sample. Nevertheless, there was no association between daytime sleepiness (ESS) and the diabetes (p>0.05).Conclusion: The study showed that Obstructive sleep apnoea is associated with diabetes mellitus. OSA patients with more severe Oxygen desaturation are at greater risk of developing diabetes. %U