Active Duty Army, Public Health Dentist U.S. Army Public Health Center, Disease Epidemiology Branch
Participants should be aware of the following financial/non-financial relationships: . Christa E. Goodwin, DMD, MS: I do not have any relevant financial / non-financial relationships with any proprietary interests.. Tyson L. Grier, MS: I do not have any relevant financial / non-financial relationships with any proprietary interests.. Olivia M. Mahlmann, MPH: I do not have any relevant financial / non-financial relationships with any proprietary interests.
Abstract: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common and concerning sleep disorder. Objective: To examine the incidence of OSA among active Army Soldiers from 2014 through 2019 and assess self-reported impacts of both the disorder and one of its treatment methods - oral appliance therapy. Methods: Surveillance data were obtained from the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Division; remaining data were self-reported through an electronic survey administered to Soldiers diagnosed with OSA during the surveillance period. Results: There were 87,404 cases of OSA during this period; yearly incidence rates ranged from 274.3 to 330.3 cases per 10,000 person-years (p-yrs). Male incidence rates (from 294.3 to 355.9/10,000 p-yrs) exceeded that of females (from 155.2 to 189.2/10,000 p-yrs). Soldiers >40 years old had the highest incidence rates of any other age group (from 820.1 to 973.2/10,000 p-yrs). Of the 8,740 survey respondents, the vast majority reported positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy as their current treatment method; 9 percent (n=795) reported treatment with oral appliance therapy. Comparing pre-to-post treatment periods, respondents treated with the oral appliance reported statistically significant improvements in sleep quality and duration, daily performance, cognition, alertness, physical activity, fatigue, and daytime sleepiness. Conclusions: OSA is a prevalent disorder associated with numerous health risks. Oral appliance therapy is an effective treatment that can be used as an alternative to, or in conjunction with, PAP therapy. The oral appliance is small, lightweight, and requires no electricity. Evaluation of long-term oral appliance therapy outcomes and cost-savings analyses may benefit the military and Soldiers with OSA.
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