Sleep Apnea Severity in People with Acromegaly: Analysis of Data from Iranian Pituitary Tumor Registry (IPTR)

Background Sleep apnea is a most common respiratory disorder in patients with acromegaly responsible for cardiovascular complications. This study aimed to evaluate the risk factors associated with severity of sleep apnea in people with acromegaly. Methods We included 56 patients with acromegaly referred to a tertiary pituitary clinic between 2019 and 2020. All patients were assessed by Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) questionnaire and overnight polysomnography. Results Patients with severe sleep apnea who need continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment were older (OR; 1.08, 95% CI 1.02–1.14, p = 0.010) and had higher waist circumference (OR; 1.08; 1.02–1.15, p = 0.015). Conclusion In patients with acromegaly, age and waist circumference seem to be the main determinants of severe sleep apnea.