New research from the University of Birmingham says patients who suffer from both Type 2 diabetes and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are at a greater risk of developing diabetic retinopathy, and could lose their eyesight within an average period of less than four years.
According to researchers, although previous students have shown a link between OSA and diabetic retinopathy, up until now there had been no published studies assessing the impact of OSA on the progression of diabetic retinopathy in patients with Type 2 diabetes.
Researchers reportedly studied 230 patients with Type 2 diabetes in two diabetes clinics, and found diabetic retinopathy prevalence was higher in patients with OSA (42.9 percent) compared to those without OSA (24.1 percent). They also found at a follow-up appointment on average 43 months later, patients with OSA (18.4 percent) were more likely to develop moderate to severe diabetic retinopathy compared to those without OSA (6.1 percent).
The study also reportedly found patients who received treatment for OSA using a machine connected to a face mask that delivers pressure to prevent the blockage of the airways during sleep had a lower risk of developing advanced diabetic retinopathy compared to patients who did not receive the treatment.
The study was recently published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
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Source: University of Birmingham