Abstract
Introduction Little is known about the association of pets and insomnia symptoms among US veterans. The aim of this study was to examine the association between pets sleeping in the bedroom environment and insomnia symptoms in a sleep clinic cohort of US veterans. Methods The sample consisted of US veterans at risk for sleep apnea (SA) evaluated at the Miami VA Sleep Center between 9/2019 and 10/2020. Veterans completed home polysomnography and questionnaires which queried demographics, pet characteristics, insomnia (insomnia severity index [ISI]), and mental health symptoms (PROMIS-29 anxiety and depression). Three linear regression models were constructed evaluating the associations between pet ownership (pet sleeping in bedroom or bed vs no pet) and a) total ISI score, b) nocturnal symptoms only (first 3 ISI items), c) daytime impairment symptoms (last 4 ISI items). Models were adjusted for relevant covariates (age, gender, race, apnea-hypopnea index, depression, anxiety, during or before COVID). Results The sample consisted of 411 veterans (age 51 ±14, BMI 32 ± 6 Kg/m2, 41% black, 87% male). Sixty-seven veterans (16%) reported sleeping with a pet in the bedroom (57% co-sleeping with their pet). Of these, 19% sleep with a cat, 76% sleep with a dog, 6% sleep with both, and 31% sleep with multiple pets. The mean ISI was 18 ± 7 while the mean AHI 21 ±19 events / hour, and 81% of the sample had SA. In adjusted analyses, relative to veterans without pets, sleeping with a pet in the bedroom (outside of the bed) was not associated with any insomnia symptoms. However, co-sleeping with a pet in bed was associated with a lower total ISI (β = -2.1, p = 0.032) and less daytime impairments (β = -1.5, p = 0.016), but co-sleeping with a pet was not associated with nocturnal insomnia symptoms. Conclusion Among veterans with a high prevalence of SA, co-sleeping with pets in bed mitigated daytime impairments and did not worsen nocturnal insomnia symptoms. Further studies are needed to clarify the mechanisms of why co-sleeping with pets may lessen daytime impairments among veterans with SA and insomnia complaints. Support (if any) None