title: Obstructive sleep apnea and associated attrition, active component, U.S. Armed Forces, January 2004-May 2016.
abstract: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a growing health concern in both civilian and military populations. Individuals who suffer from OSA have increased rates of cardiovascular disease, chronic fatigue, motor vehicle accidents, cognitive impairment, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Data from the Defense Medical Surveillance System (DMSS) were utilized to examine the incidence of OSA and associated attrition from service in active component military members from 1 January 2004 through 31 May 2016. The study identified 223,731 incident cases of OSA with an overall incidence rate of 139.2 per 10,000 person-years, between 2004 and 2015. Rates increased more than 3-fold between 2004 and 2015. In 2015, 48.1% of all incident cases of OSA were diagnosed in the last year of service. The high percentage of cases diagnosed prior to separation from service is concerning because OSA is a treatable and partially preventable disease. OSA represents a large health and economic burden for the armed services and yet there are persistent research gaps in appropriate screening and prevention strategies to improve both individual health and mission performance.
authors: Amy E
authors: AE
authors: Rogers
authors: Shauna
authors: S
authors: Stahlman
authors: Devin J
authors: DJ
authors: Hunt
authors: Gi-Taik
authors: GT
authors: Oh
authors: Leslie L
authors: LL
authors: Clark
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D011159:Population Surveillance; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult