Obstructive Sleep Apnea Surveillance and Oral Appliance Therapy Evaluation, Active Duty U.S. Army, 2014-2019
Abstract
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common and concerning sleep disorder. Purpose: To examine the incidence of OSA among active Army Soldiers from 2014 through 2019 and assess self-reported impacts of both the disorder and one of its treatment methods - oral appliance therapy. Methods: Surveillance data were obtained from the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Division; remaining data were self-reported through an electronic survey administered to Soldiers diagnosed with OSA during the surveillance period. Results: There were 87,404 cases of OSA during this period; yearly incidence rates ranged from 274.3 to 330.3 cases per 10,000 person-years (p-yrs). Male incidence rates (from 294.3 to 355.9/10,000 p-yrs) exceeded that of females (from 155.2 to 189.2/10,000 p-yrs). Soldiers greater than 40 years old had the highest incidence rates of any other age group (from 820.1 to 973.2/10,000 p-yrs). Of the 8,740 survey respondents, the vast majority reported positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy as their current treatment method; 9 percent (n=795) reported treatment with oral appliance therapy. Comparing pre-to-post treatment periods, respondents treated with the oral appliance reported statistically significant improvements in sleep quality and duration, daily performance, cognition, alertness, physical activity, fatigue, and daytime sleepiness. Conclusions: OSA is a prevalent disorder, particularly among older Army Soldiers. Oral appliance therapy is an effective treatment that can be used as an alternative to, or in conjunction with, PAP therapy. The results of this survey demonstrate that overall, Army Soldiers are satisfied with this treatment; it has significantly improved their sleep quality, duration, and various aspects of daily life. Evaluation of long-term oral appliance therapy outcomes and cost-savings analyses may benefit the military and Soldiers with OSA.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 10, 2022
- Accession Number
- AD1171341
Entities
People
- Christa E. Goodwin
- Olivia Mahlmann
- Tyson Grier
Organizations
- United States Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine