Publication year
2011
Citation Title
Prevalence and impact of short sleep deprivation in redeployed OIF soldiers.
Journal Name
Sleep
Journal Volume
34
Issue Number
9
Page Numbers
1189-1195
DOI
10.5665/sleep.1236
Summary
A sample of 2,717 U.S. Army Soldiers completed a survey to assess the prevalence and impact of short sleep duration during redeployment. Seventy-two percent of Soldiers slept less than six hours a day, which was more common among Soldiers reporting combat exposure. Results indicated that sleep deprivation can impact job performance and outcomes related to combat exposure.
Key Findings
Short sleep duration is common and persists in most (72%) redeployed Soldiers at the 90-180 day mark; average sleep duration was 5.8 hours (SD = 1.2).
Symptoms of insufficient sleep as defined by the need to nap during the day or an influence on job performance was reported by 16% of Soldiers and was much more common among those with short (less than seven hours) or very short (less than six hours) sleep duration compared to those with normal sleep duration.
Soldiers with reported combat exposures were much less likely to sleep more than six hours a night; of the four combat exposures measured, being wounded or injured during combat was most strongly associated with short or very short sleep duration.
There were no differences in sleep duration between sexes, ages, weights, or body mass indexes, but commissioned and warrant officers were more likely to have a normal sleep duration than either enlisted or non-commissioned officers.
Implications for Program Leaders
Provide education to military families on the prevalence and symptoms of short sleep duration following deployment
Host workshops on basic sleep education for Service members including information on sleep hygiene and good sleep habits
Offer support groups during reintegration to help families and Service members adjust to the Service member’s return, especially when the deployment has included combat exposure
Implications for Policy Makers
Continue to support programs that offer reintegration services based on healthy sleep to Service members
Encourage the development and continuation of programs that can promote resilience in Service members, their partners, and children
Recommend education for service providers around the possible effects of deployment on Service members’ health and families
Methods
Data for this study were collected as part of the Health Risk Assessment II project; U.S. Army Soldiers completed the survey 90-180 days after leaving the combat environment.
Participants completed PTSD, panic disorder, and depression screening instruments, a brief assessment of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), and questions about health and sleep behaviors and combat exposure.
Statistical analyses were used to examined whether demographic and sleep variables predicted mental health outcomes.
Participants
A sample of 2,717 Soldiers completed the survey (96% male).
The average age of the sample was 25.60 years (SD = 5.70), average weight was 183.00 pounds (SD = 36.00), and average BMI was 26.3 (SD = 4.8).
Forty-nine percent of the participants were junior enlisted and 44% were non-commissioned officers. Fifty-five percent had completed two to four deployments in support of the Global War on Terror, and the average length of most recent deployment was 398 days.
No information on race/ethnicity was presented.
Limitations
All measures were self-report screening instruments and the data may not represent the true diagnostic rates of symptoms or disorders.
Self-reported sleep duration may not be reflective of actual sleep duration as individuals are generally not accurate in this assessment.
These data were cross-sectional and causal attributions are not appropriate.
These results may not be representative of the entire Army or other service branches; no information about race/ethnicity was presented.
Avenues for Future Research
Gather longitudinal data of sleep symptoms and health outcomes to better understand the relationships between sleep and health outcomes
Replicate the study using clinicians' assessments of true diagnostic rates of insomnia following deployment
Develop interventions to improve sleep duration and quality tailored for Service members who have experienced combat
Focus
Army
Target Population
Population Focus
Military Branch
Military Component
Abstract
Study Objectives: Short sleep duration (SSD) is common among deployed soldiers. The prevalence of SSD during redeployment, however, is unknown. Design: Cross-sectional study of a brigade combat team (n = 3152 US Army soldiers) surveyed 90–180 days after completing a 6–15 month deployment to Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). Survey items targeted sleep habits and comorbid medical conditions. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to calculate adjusted odds ratios of medical comorbidities associated with SSD. Setting: US Army Infantry Post. Subjects: All soldiers from a redeploying brigade combat team participated in a health assessment between 90 and 180 days upon return to Ft. Lewis from Iraq. Interventions: None. Measurements and Results: A total of 2738 (86.9%) soldiers answered questions regarding self-perceived sleep and were included in the analysis. Mean sleep duration was 5.8 ± 1.2 hours. Nineteen hundred fifty-nine (72%) slept ? 6 h, but only 16% reported a daytime nap or felt their job performance was affected due to lack of sleep. Short sleep was more common among soldiers who reported combat exposure. After controlling for combat exposure, short sleep duration (SSD) was associated with symptoms of depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, panic syndrome, and with high-risk health behaviors such as abuse of tobacco and alcohol products, and suicide attempts. Conclusions: SSD is common among redeployed soldiers. Soldiers who experienced combat are at increased risk for persistent SSD and comorbidities associated with SSD. Efforts to reestablish good sleep habits and aggressive evaluation of soldiers with persistent SSD following deployment may aid in the prevention and management of associated medical conditions.
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