Influence of diet and sport on the risk of sleep apnea in patients with metabolic syndrome associated with hypothyroidism - a 4-year survey

Abstract

Apnea is a common problem observed among obese individuals, affecting the quality of sleep and increasing cardiovascular risk and mortality. The current study monitored the risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) following diet therapy and sports-associated diet therapy in patients with metabolic syndrome (MS) and hypothyroidism. The subjects included in the study were divided into 3 groups: control group (CG) (n=36), diet therapy group (DG) (including patients following a personalized diet therapy program) (n=76), and diet therapy and sports group (DSG) (which considered patients doing sports in addition to following a personalized diet therapy program) (n=80). The evaluation methods included body analysis (body mass index, fat mass, and visceral fat), paraclinical analysis (homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance), assessment of difficulty in breathing, stress monitoring, hypothyroidism, and risk of OSA. The OSA index was assessed using the Berlin Questionnaire of Sleep Apnea and Epworth Sleepiness Scale. The correlation between OSA with body mass index (BMI), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index, fat mass, and visceral fat showed a statistically significant positive ratio (p<0.05; F=3.871). The obtained results indicated that diet therapy and physical activity reduced the OSA risk by 78.72%.

Keywords: Diet therapy; Hypothyroidism; Obstructive sleep apnea; Sports, Metabolic syndrome; Stress.