Allergies, asthma, and sleep problems in adults who stutter

• Published in: Journal of fluency disorders 2024-09, Vol.81, p.106063, Article 106063
• Main Authors: Merlo, Sandra, Briley, Patrick M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Allergy; Asthma - complications; Asthma - epidemiology; Epidemiology; Female; Gastroesophageal Reflux - complications; Gastroesophageal Reflux - epidemiology; Health Surveys; Humans; Hypersensitivity - epidemiology; Insomnia; Male; Middle Aged; Prevalence; Sleep duration; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders - complications; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders - epidemiology; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders - etiology; Sleep Wake Disorders - complications; Sleep Wake Disorders - epidemiology; Sleep Wake Disorders - etiology; Stuttering; Stuttering - epidemiology; Stuttering - etiology; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0094-730X; 1873-801X; 1873-801X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jfludis.2024.106063

Previous studies have suggested that allergies, asthma, and sleep problems are prevalent in those who stutter. This study analyzed similar data for a broad age group of adults who stutter (AWS). Data from the 2012 National Health Interview Survey were analyzed. Adults from 18 to 60 + years of age reported a) to have stuttered, b) to have had any allergy, asthma, or acid reflux, c) to have had insomnia/trouble sleeping and daytime negative consequences, and d) average sleeping hours per day in the past 12 months. The sample included 320 AWS and 33,043 controls. AWS were at greater odds of respiratory, food, and skin allergies (OR = 2.38, 2.36, and 2.09, respectively), as well as asthma and acid reflux (OR = 2.30 and 2.01, respectively) than controls. AWS were at greater odds of insomnia/trouble sleeping, oversleeping, excessive sleepiness, and fatigue than controls (OR = 2.11, 1.71, 2.67, and 1.81, respectively). The subgroup of AWS with no allergy, asthma, and acid reflux were also at greater odds of insomnia/trouble sleeping and excessive sleepiness than controls (OR = 2.13 and 3.11, respectively). Differences were found in specific age groups: younger/middle-aged AWS reported more allergies, asthma, and acid reflux than controls, while older AWS did not; younger/middle-aged AWS reported more insomnia/trouble sleeping than controls, while older AWS reported more oversleeping. Findings on younger and middle-aged AWS are similar to previous ones on children and adolescents who stutter. Differences regarding younger/middle-aged and older AWS could be consequence of environmental variables. •Adults who stutter (AWS) were at greater odds of allergies than controls.•AWS were at greater odds of asthma and acid reflux compared to controls.•AWS were at greater odds of insomnia/trouble sleeping and oversleeping than controls.•AWS were at greater odds of excessive sleepiness and fatigue compared to controls.•Age affected the profile of allergies, asthma, acid reflux, and sleep issues in AWS.