title: Estimating the Prevalence of Sleep-Disordered Breathing Among Collegiate Football Players.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obstructive sleep apnea is a clinical disorder characterized by loud snoring, apneic episodes, and chronic sleep disruption. Collegiate football players exhibit several risk factors for OSA, including large neck circumference and high body mass index, although the prevalence of OSA in this cohort is unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  The STOP-BANG questionnaire was administered at random to members of a collegiate football team and used to stratify the players into high and low risk for sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). Those who completed the questionnaire were then evaluated for SDB during preseason camp using a single-channel (finger pulse oximetry) photoplethysmography-based device. SDB was defined as an apnea-hypopnea index of ≥5.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 56 players who underwent overnight photoplethysmography monitoring, valid results were available for 51. Forty-eight percent of the players were high-risk (neck size = 44.6 ± 2.2 cm, body mass index = 33.0 ± 5.4) versus low-risk (neck size = 41.4 ± 2.8 cm, body mass index = 27.6 ± 3.6) (both P values <.001). An apnea-hypopnea index of ≥5 was found in 2 (8.3%, 95% CI 1.0-20.0%) high-risk and 2 (7.7, 95% CI 1.0-18.4%) low-risk players. Two offensive linemen, a linebacker, and a tight end accounted for the positive cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on our sample, we estimate the prevalence of SDB among collegiate football players to be 8%, regardless of risk stratification. Given the strong link between SDB and cardiovascular disease, these data underscore the importance of screening and subsequent treatment of SDB in this highly conditioned yet potentially vulnerable group of athletes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology Towson Research Academy for Collaborative Sport Science (TRACS), Towson University, Towson, Maryland. ddobrosielski@towson.edu.
authors.forename: Devon A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Dobrosielski
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology.
authors.forename: Dalton
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nichols
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ford
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology.
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Watts
authors.affiliation: Department of Athletics Towson Research Academy for Collaborative Sport Science (TRACS), Towson University, Towson, Maryland.
authors.forename: Joshua N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Wilder
authors.affiliation: Department of Interprofessional Health Studies.
authors.forename: Tamara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Douglass-Burton
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005538:Football / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008396:Maryland / Q000453:epidemiology; D009333:Neck / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D010092:Oximetry; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D017156:Photoplethysmography; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen
keywords: STOP-BANG; athletes; dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA); photoplethysmography; sleep disorders