A conversation about overall health
A patient is said to have comorbidities when he/she has multiple coexisting diseases. In the United States, about 80% of Medicare spending is devoted to patients with 4 or more chronic conditions. Sleep disorders present medical comorbidities quite frequently. Disorders like insomnia and hypersomnia are highly comorbid with conditions such as chronic pain and diabetes. Here are some of the most common conditions found in sleep-disordered breathing patients.
Cardiovascular Disease
Congestive heart failure is the most prevalent comorbidity at 76%, however atrial fibrillation (49%) and coronary artery disease (30%) are also significant. This relationship is important for Cardiologists to test for as it often goes undiagnosed.
Type 2 Diabetes
The association between type 2 diabetes and sleep apnea has been widely researched, and the results show 72% of people with sleep apnea also have type 2 diabetes. Two way screening is recommended for patients with sleep disordered breathing (SDB) and type 2 diabetes patients.
Drug Resistant Hypertension
Patients that have sleep disordered breathing (SDB) have an increased risk of becoming hypertensive. 83% of patients with sleep apnea have drug resistant hypertension. CPAP therapy can significantly reduce blood pressure in patients with comorbid hypertension and sleep apnea.
Identifying and managing sleep disorders in patients is necessary in order to properly treat any possible comorbidities. If you have any of the conditions mentioned above, it’s important to consult with a medical professional to determine if you may be at risk for chronic conditions like sleep apnea.
Consult with your physician today
He/she will advise you on the next best step
