[Glucose tolerance, insulin resistance and arterial hypertension in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome].

Each of 51 patients (42 male, 9 female) examined by polysomnography for suspected obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) was subjected to a glucose load test with 75 g glucose and determination of blood sugar and blood insulin levels (at 0, 30, 60, 120 and 180 min). The patients were divided into 4 groups; with and without excess weight (Broca index < or = > 110%), and with and without pathological apnea index (< or = > 10). There was no significant difference between the groups with respect to age. The corresponding groups did not show any significant differences with regard to Broca index or apnea index. However, the patient group with a Broca index > or = 110% and a pathological apnea index > or = 10 was significantly different to all other groups with regard to glucose and insulin level after 60 min. This group was also significantly different to all other groups with regard to systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The reduced glucose tolerance and increased insulin resistance in combination with arterial hypertension in this patient group is indicative that a combination of adiposity and OSAS represents a particularly high risk factor for the development of arterial hypertension even though the pathological mechanism responsible for the development of arterial hypertension is also present in members of both the normal weight OSAS group and the overweight group without OSAS who exhibit a metabolic predisposition for the development of hypertension. A synergetic interaction of both pathomechanisms favors the development of arterial hypertension. Overweight patients with OSAS thus constitute a high-risk group for the development of cardiovascular diseases.