Risk of sleep apnea in orchestra members

Brown, Devin L.; Zahuranec, Darin B.; Majersik, Jennifer J.; Wren, Patricia A.; Gruis, Kirsten L.; Zupancic, Michael; Lisabeth, Lynda D.

doi:10.1016/j.sleep.2008.05.013

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Volume 10, Issue 6 , Pages 657-660, June 2009

Risk of sleep apnea in orchestra members

Devin L. Brown
- Stroke Program, University of Michigan Medical School, The Cardiovascular Center – Stroke Program, 1500 E. Medical Center Drive - SPC#5855, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5855, USA
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +1 734 936 9075; fax: +1 734 232 4447.
Darin B. Zahuranec
- Stroke Program, University of Michigan Medical School, The Cardiovascular Center – Stroke Program, 1500 E. Medical Center Drive - SPC#5855, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5855, USA
Jennifer J. Majersik
- Stroke Program, University of Michigan Medical School, The Cardiovascular Center – Stroke Program, 1500 E. Medical Center Drive - SPC#5855, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5855, USA
Patricia A. Wren
- School of Health Sciences, Oakland University, Rochester, MI 48309, USA
Kirsten L. Gruis
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, 1500 East Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
Michael Zupancic
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, 1500 East Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
Lynda D. Lisabeth
- Stroke Program, University of Michigan Medical School, The Cardiovascular Center – Stroke Program, 1500 E. Medical Center Drive - SPC#5855, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5855, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA

Received 27 December 2007; received in revised form 5 April 2008; accepted 11 May 2008.

Abstract

Background

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common condition with substantial health consequences. A recent randomized trial found that playing the didgeridoo improved both subjective and objective sleep measures. We undertook a cross-sectional survey of professional orchestra players to test the hypothesis that playing a wind instrument would be associated with a lower risk of OSA.

Methods

An anonymous internet-based survey of professional orchestra members assessed risk of sleep apnea using the Berlin questionnaire. Multivariable logistic regression was used to test the association between playing a wind instrument and having a high risk score on the Berlin questionnaire, both unadjusted and adjusted for age, body mass index, and gender.

Results

A total of 1,111 orchestra members responded, including 369 (33%) wind instrument players. Wind players were more often male and had a higher body mass index than non-wind players. Of all musicians, 348 (31%) had a high risk of sleep apnea. Wind players were more likely than non-wind players to be at high risk in unadjusted analysis (Odds ratio=1.47, 95% CI 1.13, 1.91), though this association was not significant in adjusted analysis (Odds ratio=1.12 (0.82, 1.54)).