ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The prevalence of snoring as well as signs and symptoms suggestive of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) among a military population was investigated. METHODS: The study was a questionnaire-based survey carried out over military personnel obtained in 3 randomly selected typical military bases in the United Kingdom. Data analysis used contingency table methods and logistic regression modeling. RESULTS: Regular snoring was significantly associated with male sex, breathing pauses during sleep, not waking up refreshed in the morning, ingestion of sleeping tablets and state of health; 19.5% of the subjects snored regularly. Based on the minimum criteria of the International Classification of Sleep Disorders and the questionnaire results, 2.9% (38 subjects) presented symptoms suggestive of SDB or OSAS. CONCLUSION: With the possible implications for the military, greater attention with regards to SDB or OSAS is required, especially to its recognition and management.
