0620 Characteristics Distinguishing Special Operational Forces (SOF) Personnel from Non-SOF Peers with TBI: Retrospective Analysis From the VA TBI Model Systems

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Special Operations Forces (SOF) is an umbrella term which encompasses over a dozen specialized communities across all military branches. Little is known about potential differences in demographic and health characteristics, including sleep, between SOF vs. non-SOF service members. We leveraged existing longitudinal studies of those with history of TBI to examine differences between SOF and non-SOF in the dataset. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of data from the VA TBI Model Systems, a multi-center longitudinal study of outcomes following TBI rehabilitation. Participants were included if SOF status was known (N = 261). Differences between groups on variables of interest were then classified as “Immaterial”, “Minor,” and “Important” based on either prevalence (categorical data) or degree of difference (continuous data). Results Of included participants, 68 (26%) were identified as SOF and 193 (74%) as non-SOF. SOF were more highly educated and more likely to have history of mild TBI. There were multiple “important” differences in co-morbidity prevalence. SOF participants were more likely to be diagnosed with sleep apnea (36% SOF vs 12% non-SOF). They were also more likely to have been diagnosed with chronic pain, a cardiac condition, high blood cholesterol, and/or osteoarthritis. Conclusion SOF participants differed from non-SOF in a multiple important ways, suggesting this is a different and medically complex population. The most striking finding was that SOF personnel had a significantly greater rate of sleep apnea, relative to non-SOF. The mechanism underlying this difference is not known but may relate to training, blast exposure, weapons use, and mission demands. Further investigation regarding mechanisms, prevalence, and treatment of OSA in the SOF community is needed. Support This research was sponsored by VHA Central Office VA TBI Model Systems Program of Research; Subcontract from General Dynamics Information Technology (W91YTZ-13-C-0015; HT0014-19-C-0004).