Open AccessObstructive Sleep Apnea Risk Is Associated with Cognitive Impairment after Controlling for Mild Traumatic Brain Injury History: A Chronic Effects of Neurotrauma Consortium Study
Author(s) -
Amanda Garcia,
Tea Reljic,
Terri K. Pogoda,
Kimbra Kenney,
Amma A. Agyemang,
Maya Troyanskaya,
Heather G. Belanger,
Elisabeth A. Wilde,
William C. Walker,
Risa NakaseRichardson
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of neurotrauma
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.653
H-Index - 149
eISSN - 1557-9042
pISSN - 0897-7151
DOI - 10.1089/neu.2019.6916
Subject(s) - obstructive sleep apnea , traumatic brain injury , medicine , effects of sleep deprivation on cognitive performance , cognition , wechsler adult intelligence scale , poison control , physical therapy , psychology , psychiatry , emergency medicine
The contribution of sleep disturbance to persistent cognitive symptoms following a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) remains unclear. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is very common, yet its relationship between risk factors for developing OSA and cognitive performance in those with history of mTBI has not been investigated. The current study examined OSA risk levels and its association with cognitive performance in 391 combat-exposed, post-911 veterans and service members (median age = 37 years) enrolled in the Chronic Effects of Neurotrauma Consortium (CENC) prospective multi-center study. Participants included those with and without mTBI ( n = 326 and 65, respectively). When using clinical cut-offs, those with history of mTBI were more likely to be categorized as high risk for OSA (mTBI positive = 65% vs. mTBI negative = 51%). After adjustment for TBI status and demographic variables, increased OSA risk was significantly associated with worse performance on measures of complex processing speed and executive functioning ( Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale Fourth Edition Coding, Trail Making Test, part B) and greater symptom burden (Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory). Thus, OSA, a modifiable behavioral health factor, likely contributes to cognitive performance following mTBI. Accordingly, OSA serves as a potential point of intervention to improve clinical and cognitive outcomes after injury.