Study of Prevalence of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Syndrome in Patients With Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma in A Tertiary Care Hospital of West Bengal

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in diagnosed patients of POAG. We also investigated whether there is an association between severity of OSA and the incidence of glaucoma. Method: Forty-two consecutive primary open-angle glaucoma patients (24 females and 18 males) who attended the out-patient clinic of the Department of Ophthalmology between July 2016 and February 2018 were included in this study. All patients underwent polysomnographic examination. Results:The prevalence of obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome was 33.3% in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma; the severity of the condition was mild in 14.3% and moderate in 19.0% of the subjects. The age (P=0.047) and neck circumference (P=0.024) in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome were significantly greater than those without the syndrome. Triceps skinfold thickness in glaucomatous obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome patients reached near significance versus those without the syndrome (P=0.078). Snoring was observed in all glaucoma cases with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome. The intra-ocular pressure of patients with primary open-angle glaucoma with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome was significantly lower than those without obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (P=0.006 and P=0.035 for the right and left eyes, respectively). Significant difference in the cup/disc ratio and visual acuity was observed, except visual field defect, between primary open-angle glaucoma patients with and without obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome.Conclusion: Our study showed that there is a significant prevalence of obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma.

Keywords: Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA); Primary Open Angle Glaucoma (POAG); Polysomnography (sleep study); Neck Circumference; Triceps Skinfold Thickness; Snoring; Intra-Ocular Pressure; Cup/Disc Ratio; Visual Acuity.