Sleep Apnea May Speed Kidney Decline

A new study found that diabetes patients who had sleep apnea lost kidney function more rapidly than those who did not have the sleep disorder. Researchers found that 61 percent of the patients had a high-risk score for obstructive sleep apnea and a much greater loss of kidney function. Sleep apnea is thought to contribute to high blood pressure, hypoxia (depriving a region of the body of oxygen) and inflammation — all factors that may contribute to kidney disease. — R. Pisoni: Presented Nov. 14, 2014 at the American Society of Nephrology Kidney Week 2014 in Philadelphia.