Model System:

TBI

Reference Type:

Journal

Accession No.:

J73352

Journal:


Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation

Year, Volume, Issue, Page(s):

, 31, 2, 82-100

Publication Website:

Abstract:

Study examined the incidence, characteristics, and risk factors for sleep apnea among individuals admitted to an acute inpatient brain injury rehabilitation unit. Sleep apnea is a sleep-related breathing disorder characterized by repeated cessation or near cessation of ventilation during sleep and is formally diagnosed using polysomnography. Data were analyzed for 86 patients admitted to a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Model System Veterans Administration Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center. The association of known risk factors used to detect presence of sleep apnea were compared in sleep apnea positive and negative groups to evaluate their sensitivity to presence of sleep disordered breathing. Sleep indices and medication profiles were compared between those with and without apnea. Subgroup analyses were conducted separately for those with TBI versus other forms of acquired brain injury to allow for examination of unique features across etiology groups. Half (49 percent) of the sample was diagnosed with sleep apnea. For the full sample, univariate logistic regression revealed age and hypertension as significant predictors of sleep apnea diagnosis. Logistic regression analyses conducted within the TBI group revealed age as the only significant predictor of apnea after adjustment for other variables. Hierarchical generalized linear regression models for the prediction of apnea severity found that Functional Independence Measure Cognition Score and age were significant predictors. Following adjustment for all other terms, only age remained significant. Findings suggest that sleep apnea is prevalent in acute neurorehabilitation admissions and traditional risk profiles for sleep apnea may not effectively screen for the disorder.

Author(s):


Holcomb, Erin M., Schwartz, Daniel J., McCarthy, Marissa, Thomas, Bryan, Barnett, Scott D., Nakase-Richardson, Risa

Participating Centers: