SLEEP APNEA-HYPOPNEA SYNDROME IN A SAMPLE OF VETERANS OF THE PERSIAN-GULF-WAR

The prevalence of sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (SAHS) was investigate d in a selected group of veterans of the Persian Gulf War at Brooke Ar my Medical Center, One hundred ninety-two self-referred patients parti cipated in the full evaluation of the Comprehensive Clinical Evaluatio n Program (CCEP) for veterans of the Persian Gulf War, After completin g an initial survey, an interview and examination were performed by st aff internists. Forty-six participants with histories suggestive of a sleep disorder were referred for further evaluation, Those patients su spected of SAHS then completed a sleep disorders questionnaire and und erwent standard nocturnal polysomnography (PSG), SAHS was defined as a respiratory disturbance index greater than or equal to 15 in a sympto matic patient, Fifteen of 46 patients undergoing PSG at this instituti on met criteria for SAHS. The majority of these patients had symptoms of fatigue and memory loss, Overall, 16 of the 192 patients (8.3%) in the CCEP of our institution were diagnosed with SAHS. SAHS may play a significant role in the symptom complex presented by many veterans of the Persian Gulf War.