0581 Characteristics of US Women Veterans with Sleep Apnea: Results of a National Survey of VA Healthcare Users

• Published in: Sleep (New York, N.Y.) N.Y.), 2020-05, Vol.43 (Supplement_1), p.A222-A223
• Main Authors: Zhu, R, Carlson, G, Kelly, M, Song, Y, Fung, C H, Mitchell, M N, Josephson, K R, Zeidler, M R, Badr, M S, Alessi, C A, Washington, D L, Yano, E M, Martin, J L
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Medical diagnosis; Post traumatic stress disorder; Sleep apnea
• ISSN: 0161-8105; 1550-9109
• DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsaa056.578

Abstract Introduction Sleep apnea (SA) is the most commonly diagnosed sleep disorder among patients in the US Veterans Administration (VA). The dramatic rise in women receiving VA care makes it essential to understand the presentation and treatment of SA in women Veterans. We performed a nationwide survey about sleep among US women Veterans and compared characteristics of respondents with and without a self-reported history of SA diagnosis and treatment. Methods A survey was mailed to a random sample of 4000 women VA healthcare users. The survey included demographics, Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4 depression/anxiety), Primary Care-Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PC-PTSD), RLS symptom presence, SA symptoms (snore loudly, observed breathing pauses), diagnosis of SA, and use of PAP therapy (APAP, BPAP, CPAP). We compared women with and without SA, and (among those with SA) women who did and did not use PAP, using Chi-square and t-tests. Results 1,498 completed surveys were returned (mean age 51.6 years, range 18-105 years, 62% non-Hispanic White). 200 respondents (13.4%) reported diagnosed SA. Women with SA were older (p