0373 Association of U.S. Military Burn Pit Smoke Exposure with Insomnia and Sleep Apnea Symptoms

Abstract Introduction Burn pits (BPs) have been widely used by the U.S. military for waste disposal. Due to obviously toxic nature of BP emissions, exposure may contribute diverse adverse health conditions, including sleep apnea. To our knowledge, this is first study examine association between self-estimated amount emission and self-reported complaints. Methods We an online questionnaire VA/DoD Airborne Hazards Open Pit Registry administered April 2014 August 2022 320,231 Veterans active-duty personnel (age 40.1±9.2 years, BMI 28.8±4.5 kg/m2, 11% female, 75% white). Outcomes included insomnia, short duration < 6hrs, apnea events, snoring. The variable was cumulative that calculated multiplying response (in hours) a question about burn pit number deployment days, summing across deployments, categorizing quartile. employed separate logistic regression models determine days outcomes using no as reference. adjusted age, BMI, sex, race, ethnicity, branch duty status. Results observed higher odds insomnia increased in each quartile (Q1-Q4 ORs:1.8-3.4, p<.001). same trend shorter ORs:1.6-2.4, p<.001), ORs:1.4-2.4, p<.0001) snoring ORs:1.3-1.8, p<.0001). Conclusion Higher levels associated with greater report symptoms, duration, events. Future research will focus on examining ­exposure objective data extracted from polysomnography reports Veteran Affairs electronic medical records. Support (if any) This work supported Department Affairs, Health Administration, Office Research Development, Center Innovations Quality, Effectiveness Safety (CIN 13-413), Michael E DeBakey Medical Bridge Grant (PI: Nowakowski), VA Excellence Pilot Nowakowski).