Trends and factors associated with insomnia and sleep apnea in all United States military service members from 2005 to 2014. (27th April 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: A. Caldwell, John; Knapik, Joseph J.; Lieberman, Harris R.
• Is Part Of: Journal of sleep research. Volume 26:Number 5(2017)
• Page Start: 665
• Page End: 670
• Publication Date: 2017-04-27
• Subjects: depression -- fatigue -- post‐traumatic stress disorder -- depression -- stress -- veterans; Sleep -- Periodicals; Sleep disorders -- Periodicals; 612.821
• DOI: 10.1111/jsr.12543
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0962-1105

Abstract

Summary: Sleep disorders are a critical issue for the military, as they impact operational readiness, personnel health, wellbeing and health‐care costs. The incidence of insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are increasing in the United States civilian population, and rates in military personnel exceed those of civilians. Using a comprehensive database, rates of medical encounters for insomnia and OSA were investigated and their associations with various demographic factors examined in the total US military population [1, 381, 406 ± 25, 123, mean ± standard deviation (SD) personnel per year] from 2005 to 2014. Encounters for insomnia increased from 16 of 1000 in 2005 to 75 of 1000 in 2014 (372%). Encounters for OSA increased from 44 of 1000 in 2005 to 273 of 1000 in 2014 (517%). Those experiencing the greatest increases in insomnia included women, individuals ≥40 years of age, blacks, senior enlisted personnel and Army personnel compared to other military services. Those experiencing the greatest rates of OSA included men, individuals ≥40 years of age, blacks, senior officers and Army personnel. Rates of insomnia and OSA increased linearly over time ( R 2 = 0.95–0.99; P < 0.01) for every subpopulation except those aged <20 years. In response to this epidemic‐like increase in sleep disorders, their prevention, identification and aggressive treatment should become a health‐care priority of the US military.