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Updated: Jun 9, 2026

Investigation into Deep Breathing through Measurement of Ventilatory Parameters and Observation of Breathing Patterns
Published on: September 16, 2019
Sleep-disordered breathing in Vietnam veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder
Jerome A Yesavage1, Lisa M Kinoshita, Timothy Kimball
1Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA. yesavage@stanford.edu
Objective:
: To study the prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in Vietnam- era veterans.
Methods:
: This was an observational study of Vietnam-era veterans using unattended, overnight polysomnography, cognitive testing, and genetic measures.
Results:
: A sample of 105 Vietnam-era veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder: 69% had an Apnea Hypopnea Index >10. Their mean body mass index was 31, "obese" by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria, and body mass index was significantly associated with Apnea Hypopnea Index (Spearman r = 0.41, N = 97, p < 0.0001). No significant effects of sleep-disordered breathing or apolipoprotein status were found on an extensive battery of cognitive tests.
Conclusion:
: There is a relatively high prevalence of SDB in these patients which raises the question of to what degree excess cognitive loss in older PTSD patients may be due to a high prevalence of SDB.
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