February 25, 2006
Sydney’s Woolcock Institute of Medical Research will soon begin investigating the possible link between treating sleep apnea and reducing the risk of heart disease and diabetes. The study will track patients for 5 months during which time they will be given three overnight sleep studies.
“The aim of this research is to see whether treatment of sleep apnea improves a key component of metabolic syndrome, namely blood fat levels,” said Professor Ron Grunstein, head of the Woolcock’s Sleep Research Group. “Elevated levels of certain fats in the blood, such as triglycerides, are strongly associated with cardiovascular disease. We also know that patients with increased fat in the liver are more prone to developing Type II diabetes. By treating sleep apnea we hope to demonstrate an improvement in these abnormalities,”
Grunstein continued, “There is a large body of evidence suggesting that a vicious cycle exists between sleep apnea and metabolic syndrome (a predictor of future diabetes and heart disease in people with obesity). It appears that sleep apnea worsens aspects of metabolic syndrome and metabolic syndrome may worsen sleep apnea.”
The trial is currently enrolling volunteers.
