Talk to the Veterans Crisis Line now
U.S. flag
An official website of the United States government

VA Health Systems Research

Go to the VA ORD website
Go to the QUERI website

HSR Citation Abstract

Search | Search by Center | Search by Source | Keywords in Title

Dysfunctional sleep in persons with spinal cord injuries and disorders.

LaVela SL, Burns SP, Goldstein B, Miskevics S, Smith B, Weaver FM. Dysfunctional sleep in persons with spinal cord injuries and disorders. Spinal Cord. 2012 Sep 1; 50(9):682-5.

Related HSR&D Project(s)

Dimensions for VA is a web-based tool available to VA staff that enables detailed searches of published research and research projects.

If you have VA-Intranet access, click here for more information vaww.hsrd.research.va.gov/dimensions/

VA staff not currently on the VA network can access Dimensions by registering for an account using their VA email address.
   Search Dimensions for VA for this citation
* Don't have VA-internal network access or a VA email address? Try searching the free-to-the-public version of Dimensions



Abstract:

STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey of veterans with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D). OBJECTIVES: To describe sleep dysfunction (independent of sleep apnea) in persons with traumatic and non-traumatic SCI/D, and to examine characteristics and health outcomes independently associated with sleep dysfunction unrelated to sleep apnea. SETTING: Seven Veterans Affairs SCI care facilities in the United States. METHODS: Mailed cross-sectional survey with follow-up calls completed by end of 2008. Bivariate analyses to compare measures outcomes in persons with SCI/D who were dysfunctional sleepers vs those who were not. Multivariate logistic regression used to identify variables independently associated with dysfunctional sleep in veterans with SCI/D. RESULTS: Overall, 49% of the sample had sleep dysfunction unrelated to sleep apnea. In this subgroup, bivariate analyses showed that a greater proportion of dysfunctional sleepers than non-dysfunctional sleepers were current smokers, had problems with drinking alcohol, hypertension, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and problematic weight gain. Variables independently associated with higher odds of dysfunctional sleep included white race, being a current smoker, problems with drinking alcohol, asthma, COPD and problematic weight gain. CONCLUSION: Consistent with epidemiological evidence for the general population, we found significant associations of sleep dysfunction with weight gain, smoking, alcohol misuse and select chronic conditions (COPD, asthma). Sustained sleep dysfunction may contribute to health deterioration and mortality, highlighting the need to address the high prevalence of sleep dysfunction (independent of sleep apnea) in persons with SCI/D. In particular, efforts aimed at modifying problematic weight gain, alcohol misuse and smoking are warranted in this cohort to improve sleep.





Questions about the HSR website? Email the Web Team

Any health information on this website is strictly for informational purposes and is not intended as medical advice. It should not be used to diagnose or treat any condition.