Among survivors of combat-related trauma there is a heightened risk for developing OSA. Although TBI increased the risk of OSA, as has been demonstrated in prior populations, other types of injury did not increase the risk of OSA. Instead, the rise in OSA among combat trauma survivors was primarily driven by the mental health sequel following injury. Clinicians should remain vigilant for OSA among survivors of traumatic injury, particularly those who have co-morbid psychiatric disease or insomnia or have experienced TBI. The relationship between OSA, psychiatric disease, and insomnia deserves further study to elucidate the mediators of these associations so that screening and treatment may be optimized.
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