26 Nov 2025 • Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and diabetic kidney disease (DKD) appear to drive each other’s progression, according to pooled data from more than 5,000 adults.

OSA nearly doubled the odds of DKD (OR 1.92), with risk climbing from 52% in mild–moderate disease (OR 1.52) to more than two-fold with severe OSA (OR 2.29). Affected patients showed poorer renal function, with eGFR reduced by 8.6 mL/min/1.73 m² versus controls. While DKD did not raise OSA prevalence overall, it correlated with more severe sleep-disordered breathing, including a +6.48 increase in apnea-hypopnea index and lower nocturnal oxygen saturation.

Findings support proactive sleep screening in diabetes and routine renal monitoring in patients with OSA to mitigate worsening risk in both conditions.

Source: Frontiers | Read Full Story