Polysomnographic evidence of sleep apnoea disorders in lean and overweight haemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND

Sleep apnoea disorders affect a large proportion of patients with renal failure. However, it is unknown whether body composition and visceral adiposity predispose haemodialysis patients to sleep apnoea disorders.

METHODS

Forty-one dialysis patients were divided in two groups according to the BMI score as; the Lean group (N=21, 1F/20M, BMI = 21.3 +/- 2.1) and the Overweight group (N=20, 9F/11M, BMI = 28.3 +/- 2.8). Sleep disturbances assessed by a full polysomnography (PSG), visceral adipose tissue (VAT), calculated by computed tomography, the quality of life, assessed by the SF-36, and the body composition, measured by DEXA.

RESULTS

None of the PSG parameters were different between the two groups. Only visceral adiposity was correlated significantly with sleep apnoea disorders.

CONCLUSIONS

BMI and percent of total body fat do not seem to predispose for sleep apnoea disorders. Rather it is the increased fat deposition in abdominal area that plays the pivotal role.