Newly Reported Respiratory Symptoms and Conditions Among Military Personnel Deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan: A Prospective Population-Based Study

摘要

Of the 46 077 participants, approximately 23% had deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan between baseline and follow-up. The proportion of newly reported respiratory outcomes in deployers versus nondeployers were as follows: respiratory symptoms (14.2 vs 10.3%), chronic bronchitis or emphysema (1.1 vs 1.1%), asthma (1.0 vs 1.2%), and any respiratory condition (14.4 vs 10.5%). Symptoms and conditions were associated with deployment in both Army and Marine Corps members, with no statistical increase found in Air Force and Navy members. Deployment lengths were not linearly associated with increased symptom reporting. While it is reassuring to note no increase in newly reported asthma, chronic bronchitis, or emphysema, increases in newly reported respiratory symptoms in Army and Marine Corps deployers, independent of smoking behavior, demographic, and military characteristics, are of concern.