The correlation between obstructive sleep apnea and diabetic neuropathy: A meta-analysis

Background

The aim of this study was to explore the correlation between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and diabetic neuropathy.

Materials and methods

After working out searching strategy, literatures were screened from the electronic databases: PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane library. R 3.12 was utilized to perform meta-analysis, and odds ratio (OR) and its 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to present effect size. Heterogeneity was assessed by χ²-based Q test and I² statistics. Publication bias was estimated by Egger’s test and sensitivity was evaluated by leave one out methods.

Results

According to the criteria, a total of 11 studies with 1842 patients were enrolled in this study. With a significant heterogeneity (Q = 31.83, I² = 68.60%), the random effects model was utilized to assess the effect size of pooled data. A remarkable correlation was identified OSA and diabetic neuropathy (OR = 1.84, 95% CI: 1.18–2.87) without publication bias (t = 1.68, P = 0.13). Meanwhile, the result of leave one out performed a well sensitivity. Moreover, the subgroup analyses presented that OSA was significantly correlated with type 1 diabetic neuropathy (OR = 1.97, 95% CI: 1.19–3.25), but no remarkable correlation was identified between OSA and type 1 (OR = 1.84, 95% CI: 0.86–3.93) or 1 + 2 (OR = 1.30, 95% CI: 0.43–3.92) diabetic neuropathy.

Conclusion

OSA was significantly correlated with neuropathy in type 1 diabetes, but not in type 2 and type 1 + 2 diabetes.