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Meta-Analysis
. 2021 May 6;16(5):e0250779.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250779. eCollection 2021.

The risk factors for insomnia and sleep-disordered breathing in military communities: A meta-analysis

Yujia Huang  1 , Jingzhou Xu  1 , Siqi Zheng  2 , Shuyu Xu  1 , Yajing Wang  1 , Jing Du  1 , Lei Xiao  1 , Ruike Zhang  1 , Hao Wang  1 , Yunxiang Tang  1 , Tong Su  1
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

The risk factors for insomnia and sleep-disordered breathing in military communities: A meta-analysis

Yujia Huang et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Background: Many reviews and meta-analyses had been conducted to investigate risk factors for sleep disorders in the general population. However, no similar research has been performed in the military population though insomnia and sleep-disordered breathing are quite prevalent in that population.

Objectives: To investigate risk factors for insomnia and sleep-disordered breathing in military personnel.

Methods: A systematic literature search was performed from inception to March 2021 and 6496 records were produced. Two authors independently screened records for eligibility. Results were presented as odds ratios, and a random-effect model was used to pool results. Data analysis was performed respectively according to military personnel type (i.e., veteran, active-duty personnel). Risk factors were sorted into three categories: sociodemographic, army-specific, and comorbidity. This meta-analysis was registered in PROSPERO before data analysis (registration No: CRD42020221696).

Results: Twenty-seven articles were finally included in the quantitative analysis. For sleep-disordered breathing in active-duty personnel, four sociodemographic (i.e., overweight/obesity, higher body mass index, male gender, >35 years old) and one comorbidity (i.e., depression) risk factors were identified. For insomnia in active-duty personnel, four sociodemographic (i.e., aging, alcohol dependence, white race, and female gender), two army-specific (i.e., deployment experience, combat experience), and four comorbidity (i.e., depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, and anxiety) risk factors were identified. For insomnia in veterans, one army-specific (i.e., combat experience) and one comorbidity (i.e., post-traumatic stress disorder) risk factor was identified.

Conclusions: Several risk factors were identified for insomnia and sleep-disordered breathing in the current meta-analysis. Risk factors for veterans and active-duty personnel were partially different. Research on sleep breathing disorders remains limited, and more convincing evidence would be obtained with more relevant studies in the future.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. PRISMA flow-chart.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Sociodemographic factors for SDB in active-duty personnel.
Fig 3
Fig 3. Comorbidity factors for SDB in active-duty personnel.
Fig 4
Fig 4. Comorbidity factor for SDB in veterans.
Fig 5
Fig 5. Sociodemographic factors for insomnia in active-duty personnel.
Fig 6
Fig 6. Army-specific factors for insomnia in active-duty personnel.
Fig 7
Fig 7. Comorbidity factors for insomnia in active-duty personnel.
Fig 8
Fig 8. Sociodemographic factors for insomnia in veterans.
Fig 9
Fig 9. Army-specific factors for insomnia in veterans.
Fig 10
Fig 10. Comorbidity factors for insomnia in veterans.
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