Upper Airway-Related Symptoms According to Mental Illness and Sleep Disorders among Workers Employed by a Large Non-Profit Organization in the Mountain West Region of the United States

Abstract

The relationships between selected upper airway-related symptoms (speech disturbances, voice disorders, cough, and breathing abnormalities) and mental illness and sleep disorders have been previously demonstrated. However, these relationships have not been compared in a single study with consideration of potential confounding variables. The current research incorporates a descriptive study design of medical claims data for employees (~21,362 per year 2017–2021) with corporate insurance to evaluate the strength of these relationships, adjusting for demographic variables and other important confounders. The upper airway-related symptoms are each significantly and positively associated with several mental illnesses and sleep disorders, after adjusting for demographic and other potential confounders. The rate of any mental illness is 138% (95% CI 93–195%) higher for speech disturbances, 55% (95% CI 28–88%) higher for voice disorders, 28% (95% CI 22–34%) higher for cough, and 58% (95% CI 50–66%) higher for breathing abnormalities, after adjustment for the confounding variables. Confounding had significant effects on the rate ratios involving cough and breathing abnormalities. The rate of any sleep disorder is 78% (95% CI 34–136%) higher for speech disturbances, 52% (95% CI 21–89%) higher for voice disorders, 34% (95% CI 27–41%) higher for cough, and 172% (95% CI 161–184%) higher for breathing abnormalities, after adjustment for the confounding variables. Confounding had significant effects on each of the upper airway-related symptoms. Rates of mental illness and sleep disorders are positively associated with the number of claims filed for each of the upper airway-related symptoms. The comorbid nature of these conditions should guide clinicians in providing more effective treatment plans that ultimately yield the best outcome for patients.