Association between obstructive sleep apnea and multiple involuntary job loss history among recently unemployed adults

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been associated with negative occupational outcomes including absenteeism and poor work productivity. This analysis explored whether the severity of OSA was associated with multiple involuntary job loss history among recently unemployed adults. Methods: This is a cross-sectional analysis of data from the screening visit of the Assessing Daily Activity Patterns Through Occupational Transitions study. Information was collected from 261 participants who recently involuntarily lost their jobs. Data included demographics, employment, medical history, and results from a limited channel home sleep apnea test. The respiratory event index was categorized as <5 events per hour (no-OSA), 5 to <15 (mild OSA), and ≥15 (moderate to severe OSA). Logistic regression and propensity score matching were used to identify factors associated with multiple involuntary job loss. Results: A total of 44.8% of participants reported multiple involuntary job loss. Those with mild OSA had 1.85 (95%CI: 1.04, 3.28) increased odds of reporting multiple involuntary job loss as compared to participants with no OSA in the unadjusted model; while participants with moderate-to-severe OSA had 2.71 (95%CI: 1.33, 5.70) increased odds. After adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity, beginning work between 7 and 9 AM, job type, and, compensation type, the odds of involuntary job loss among participants with moderate-severe OSA were 2.46 (95%CI: 1.13, 5.52) as compared to having no OSA. Conclusions: In a sample of recently unemployed adults, having OSA significantly increased the odds of reporting previous involuntary job losses. This study suggests OSA could be a risk factor for job loss.