Abstract Introduction Disordered sleep, including insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea, is common among post-9/11 veterans returning from Southwest Asia and Afghanistan. Environmental exposures, such as elevated respirable particulate matter, may contribute to the development of sleep apnea. Additional occupational exposures sustained during military service may contribute to poor sleep, for example hyperarousal and resultant insomnia. We sought to describe sleep quality and prevalence of sleep disorders among a veteran population exposed to airborne hazards with unexplained dyspnea. Methods Veterans from across five sites of the Post-Deployment Cardiopulmonary Evaluation Network (PDCEN) completed, as part of a more comprehensive evaluation, questionnaires inclusive of demographic information and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Limited polysomnography data was also available through chart review at the Baltimore site. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed, with means and standard deviations or medians and interquartile ranges reported for all questionnaire and PSG outcomes, as appropriate. Results In total, 168 veterans completed the PSQI and demographic questionnaires. The majority of respondents were aged 45±9 years, male (82%), and white (73%). Approximately half had served in the Army branch of the military. BMI was available for only 127 veterans, with mean 31.9±5.9 kg/m2. The group overall reported prolonged sleep onset latency (56±51 minutes) and reduced total sleep time (5±1 hours). Overall PSQI scores were elevated at 13±5. In Baltimore (N=38), PSQI data was similar. Sleep study data was available for 30/38 veterans, of whom 27 had a diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Among those with OSA, the median AHI was 13.5 (IQR 14.5) events/hour and the mean BMI was 31.0±5.2 kg/m2. Conclusion Among a cohort of post-9/11 veterans with exposure to airborne hazards, insufficient and disturbed sleep was common. In a limited subset with sleep study data, the majority had at least mild OSA. Future work will evaluate the presence of comorbid medical and mental health conditions. This early descriptive data is consistent with prior reports among similar veteran populations, and highlights the need for further research to elucidate causes of sleep disturbances and possible relation to exposure to airborne hazards. Support (if any) Supported by the VA’s Airborne Hazards and Burn Pits Center of Excellence
Glick et al. (Sat,) studied this question.