Association of Diabetes and Hypertension with severity of Perceived stress in OSA population of Pakistan

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between diabetes, hypertension, and perceived stress levels in individuals suffering from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in Pakistan. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Pulmonology at Dow University Hospital, Karachi, between November 2022 and December 2023. Patients with a diagnosis of diabetes, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea were included. Participants were evaluated for their demographic profiles, anthropometric measurements, medical histories, and perceived stress levels. Statistical analyses were carried out by SPSS version 21, to explore the associations between diabetes, hypertension, and perceived stress Results: The study population consisted of 57.9% males and 42.1% females, with mean age for males and females as 47.9 ± 13.1 years and 53.1 ± 10.6 years. In males, 36.8% had moderate OSA, while 52.8% had severe OSA. In contrast, 44.2% of females had moderate OSA, and 39.0% had severe OSA. No significant association was found between perceived stress and diabetes or hypertension in patients with OSA (p->0.05) Conclusion: The lack of the significant relationship underscores the need for continued future research to elucidate the intricate interplay between chronic medical conditions, perceived stress, and OSA.