title: Risk of sleep apnea in orchestra members.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common condition with substantial health consequences. A recent randomized trial found that playing the didgeridoo improved both subjective and objective sleep measures. We undertook a cross-sectional survey of professional orchestra players to test the hypothesis that playing a wind instrument would be associated with a lower risk of OSA.
  
  
  METHODS
  An anonymous internet-based survey of professional orchestra members assessed risk of sleep apnea using the Berlin questionnaire. Multivariable logistic regression was used to test the association between playing a wind instrument and having a high risk score on the Berlin questionnaire, both unadjusted and adjusted for age, body mass index, and gender.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1,111 orchestra members responded, including 369 (33%) wind instrument players. Wind players were more often male and had a higher body mass index than non-wind players. Of all musicians, 348 (31%) had a high risk of sleep apnea. Wind players were more likely than non-wind players to be at high risk in unadjusted analysis (Odds ratio=1.47, 95% CI 1.13, 1.91), though this association was not significant in adjusted analysis (Odds ratio=1.12 (0.82, 1.54)).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Playing a wind instrument was not associated with a lower risk of OSA.
authors.affiliation: Stroke Program, University of Michigan Medical School, The Cardiovascular Center - Stroke Program, 1500 E. Medical Center Drive - SPC#5855, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5855, USA. devinb@umich.edu
authors.forename: Devin L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Darin B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Zahuranec
authors.forename: Jennifer J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Majersik
authors.forename: Patricia A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Wren
authors.forename: Kirsten L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Gruis
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zupancic
authors.forename: Lynda D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Lisabeth
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009146:Music; D009790:Occupations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012737:Sex Factors; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires