The Relationship Between Blast-related Hearing Threshold Shift and Insomnia in U.S. Military Personnel

ABSTRACT Introduction Hearing loss and insomnia emerged as preeminent sources of morbidity among military service members veterans who served in the recent Iraq Afghanistan conflicts. Significant threshold shift (STS), an early indicator hearing loss, has not been studied relation to insomnia. This study’s objective was examine co-occurrence STS U.S. personnel with blast-related injury. Materials Methods A total 652 were blast-injured during operations or between 2004 2012 identified from Blast-Related Auditory Injury Database. Pre- post-injury audiometric data used ascertain new-onset STS, defined 30 dB greater increase for sum thresholds at 2,000, 3,000, 4,000 Hz either ear. Insomnia diagnosed within 2 years abstracted electronic medical records. Multivariable logistic regression analysis examined relationship insomnia, while adjusting age, year injury, occupation, injury severity, tinnitus concussion in-theater, PTSD. Results majority study sample aged 18-25 (79.9%) sustained mild-to-moderate injuries (92.2%). present 21.1% members. Cumulative incidence 22.3% 11.1% those without respectively. After covariates, had nearly 2-times higher odds (odds ratio (OR) = 1.91, 95% CI 1.12-3.24) compared STS. In multivariable modeling, strongest association PTSD (OR 5.57, 3.35-9.26). secondary finding note that a significantly frequency (28.1% vs. 15.2%). Conclusions associated could be identify risk. Multidisciplinary care is needed manage both conditions post-deployment rehabilitation phase. Future research should evaluate specific mechanisms involved this further explore