Lipid accumulation product (LAP) was independently associated with obstructive sleep apnea in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Background Lipid accumulation product (LAP) is a new index based on a combination of waist circumference (WC) and serum triglycerides (TG) reflecting lipid accumulation. In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to explore whether LAP was independently associated with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. Methods A cross-sectional study of 317 T2DM patients who underwent overnight polysomnography (PSG) tests was conducted. The clinical data between non-OSA group and OSA group were compared. Multivariable linear regression and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to determine associations of LAP, with apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and OSA. Results Among 317 patients, 219 (69.1%) were men, and the mean ages (±SD) were 51.4 (±13.5) years for men and 54.6 (±15.1) years for women ( p = 0.067). The prevalence rates of OSA were 63.0% for men and 68.4% for women ( p = 0.357). LAP (log-transformed) was significantly correlated with AHI (log-transformed), with the Pearson’s correlation coefficient of 0.170 ( p = 0.002). With adjustment for potential confounding factors, multivariate linear regression analyses showed the association of LAP with AHI was not statistically significant, with the adjusted linear regression coefficients (95% CI) of per SD increase of LAP for AHI (log-transformed) was 0.092 (− 0.011–0.194, p = 0.080). Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed LAP was significantly associated with increased risk of OSA, with the adjusted OR (95%CI) of per SD increase of LAP of 1.639 (1.032–2.604, p = 0.036). However, as constituents of LAP, neither TG nor WC was significantly associated with AHI and OSA. Conclusion LAP was independently associated with OSA and might be used as a potential OSA risk marker in T2DM patients, beyond the general index of obesity.