Bidirectional interplay of sleep apnea syndrome and cardio-vascular disorders in diabetes

Although often overlooked sleep apnea has emerged as a significant public health concern. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and diabetes commonly co-exist with a vicious cycle worsening the incidence and severity of both conditions. OSA has many implications including cardiometabolic disorders and impaired cardiovascular (CV) prognosis. OSA combined with diabetes generates a cumulative effect on CV outcomes. The association of OSA with several comorbidities including CV disease and heart failure is bi-directional meaning that some of them are likely to contribute to OSA. In patients with diabetes, OSA treatment should be integrated in a holistic strategy of prevention of CV and microvascular complications. This article provides some clues to advance the understanding of the interplay between OSA and CV disorders in diabetes and to consider the role of some CV risk markers like cardiac autonomic neuropathy and artery stiffness and of novel metrics for hypoxic-related events in CV risk stratification, and offers a discussion on the effects of medical approaches including weight loss strategies, GLP1-receptor agonists and sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors. It provides a guidance to improve screening and diagnosis of OSA, and adherence to OSA treatment in patients with diabetes.