Risk of sleep apnea in orchestra members.
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.
Brown
Devin L
DL
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
Zahuranec
Darin B
DB
Majersik
Jennifer J
JJ
Wren
Patricia A
PA
Gruis
Kirsten L
KL
Zupancic
Michael
M
Lisabeth
Lynda D
LD
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