MAINTENANCE OF WAKEFULNESS TEST IN ACTIVE DUTY SOLDIERS WITH UPPER AIRWAY RESISTANCE SYNDROME AND MILD TO MODERATE OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA

Abstract

PURPOSE: Sleep Disordered Breathing(SBD) is a common disorder that is becoming more recognized in the active duty military population. A major consequence of SDB is excessive daytime sleepiness(EDS). The maintenance of wakefulness test(MWT) is a daytime polysomnography(PSG) performed after nighttime PSG that has been used to evaluate EDS. It can assess an individual's tendency to fall asleep which has important military relevance for those soldiers whose duties include guard duty as well as operating heavy machinery and driving military vehicles. We conducted consecutive MWTs on active duty soldiers diagnosed with mild to moderate Obstructive Sleep Apnea(OSA) and Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome(UARS) to evaluate their tendency to fall asleep.