Sleep quality of service members and Veterans with and without reports of dizziness

Abstract:Background: Military duty may place Service members and Veterans at an increased risk of experiencing dizziness. Individuals with dizziness report poor sleep quality as well as abnormal sleep duration, which is associated with increased risk of falling and worse quality of life. The overall pooled prevalence of poor sleep quality in Service members and Veterans was 69%, but it is not known if Service members and Veterans with self-reported dizziness report poorer sleep quality than their counterparts without dizziness. Objective: The purpose of this research study was to evaluate the sleep quality of Service members and Veterans with and without reports of dizziness. Methods: Descriptive statistics were used to explore the prevalence of self-reported dizziness among Service members and Veterans by demographic characteristics. Descriptive statistics were also used to describe the prevalence of participants’ dizziness symptoms and the mean age participants first noticed dizziness. Models (unadjusted and adjusted) were created by regressing sleep disorders and daytime sleepiness on dizziness frequency. Potential confounders were chosen a priori through a theoretical framework. Military status (Service member vs Veteran) was explored as an interaction term. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated, with statistical significance determined by the 95% CI. Results: Dizziness was reported by 22.4% of Service members (n = 171 of 763) and 31.7% of Veterans (n = 241 of 761). Service members and Veterans with dizziness were 1.7 times more likely to have a sleep disorder than Service members and Veterans without dizziness. Conclusions: Service members and Veterans with dizziness were more likely to have poor sleep quality than those without dizziness. Medical providers should screen for sleep disturbances, evaluate for obstructive sleep apnea, treat chronic insomnia disorder, and consider referral for vestibular rehabilitation in Service members and Veterans presenting with dizziness.