Obstructive sleep apnea presenting during infantry field exercises: does the Army Weight Control Program protect...

We report two cases of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) that presented during infantry field exercises as snoring so loud as to risk betraying the unit's position. Both patients exceeded the height-weight standards of the Army Weight Control Program (AWCP). Since high body mass is a strong risk factor for OSA, we asked whether the AWCP reduces the risk of OSA. We found that it should for women in all age groups and for men over 40, but it is less protective for younger men (who constitute a large portion of Army personnel). In light of this and of previous estimates that up to 1.5% of all Army personnel exceed the AWCP standards, we conclude that there may be a significant number of unrecognized cases of OSA in the Army. Additionally, tightening of the AWCP standards may be warranted for women under 30 and men under 50, who currently are permitted to significantly exceed ideal body weight.