title: Prevalence and impact of short sleep duration in redeployed OIF soldiers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Short sleep duration (SSD) is common among deployed soldiers. The prevalence of SSD during redeployment, however, is unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study of a brigade combat team (n = 3152 US Army soldiers) surveyed 90-180 days after completing a 6-15 month deployment to Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). Survey items targeted sleep habits and comorbid medical conditions. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to calculate adjusted odds ratios of medical comorbidities associated with SSD.
  
  
  METHODS
  US Army Infantry Post.
  
  
  METHODS
  All soldiers from a redeploying brigade combat team participated in a health assessment between 90 and 180 days upon return to Ft. Lewis from Iraq.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 2738 (86.9%) soldiers answered questions regarding self-perceived sleep and were included in the analysis. Mean sleep duration was 5.8 ± 1.2 hours. Nineteen hundred fifty-nine (72%) slept ≤ 6 h, but only 16% reported a daytime nap or felt their job performance was affected due to lack of sleep. Short sleep was more common among soldiers who reported combat exposure. After controlling for combat exposure, short sleep duration (SSD) was associated with symptoms of depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, panic syndrome, and with high-risk health behaviors such as abuse of tobacco and alcohol products, and suicide attempts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SSD is common among redeployed soldiers. Soldiers who experienced combat are at increased risk for persistent SSD and comorbidities associated with SSD. Efforts to reestablish good sleep habits and aggressive evaluation of soldiers with persistent SSD following deployment may aid in the prevention and management of associated medical conditions.
authors: The National Center for Telehealth & Technology, Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury, Tacoma, WA 98431, USA. david.luxton@us.army.mil
authors: David D
authors: DD
authors: Luxton
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Greenburg
authors: Jenny
authors: J
authors: Ryan
authors: Alexander
authors: A
authors: Niven
authors: Gary
authors: G
authors: Wheeler
authors: Vincent
authors: V
authors: Mysliwiec
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003130:Combat Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel; D015995:Prevalence; D012892:Sleep Deprivation / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult