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Study
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: We compared prevalence, health care utilization, and costs over time for nonelderly adults diagnosed with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) in relation to timing of federal approvals for FMS drugs.
DATA SOURCE: We used military health care claims from October 2006 to September 2010.
STUDY DESIGN/ANALYSIS: Retrospective, multiple-year comparisons were conducted using trend analyses, and time series regression-based generalized linear models.
RESULTS: Over 5 years, FMS prevalence rates increased from 0.307% to 0.522%, whereas IBS and CFS prevalence rates remained stable. The largest increase in FMS prevalence occurred between 2007 and 2008. Health care utilization was higher for FMS cases compared to IBS and CFS cases. Over 5 years, the total cost for FMS-related care increased $163.2 million, whereas IBS costs increased $14.9 million and CFS cost increased $3.7 million. Between 2006 and 2010, total pharmacy cost for FMS cases increased from $55 million ($3,641/person) to $96.3 million ($3,557/person).
CONCLUSION: Although cause and effect cannot be established, the advent of federally approved drugs for FMS in concert with pharmaceutical industry marketing of these drugs coincide with the observed changes in prevalence, health care utilization, and costs of FMS relative to IBS and CFS.
- Publication Status: Published
- Sponsoring Organization: Defense Health Agency (formerly TRICARE Management Activity)
- Sponsoring Office: Defense Health Agency (formerly TRICARE Management Activity)
- Congressionally Mandated: No
- Funding Source: Defense Health Agency (formerly TRICARE Management Activity)
- Release Date/Publication: September 01, 2014
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Citation: Jeffery DD, Bulathsinhala L, Kroc M, Dorris J. Prevalence, health care utilization, and costs of fibromyalgia, irritable bowel, and chronic fatigue syndromes in the military health system, 2006-2010. Mil Med. 2014 Sep;179(9):1021-9.
Study
Abstract
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a prevalent condition among military service members and civilians who have experienced traumatic events. Stimulant use has been postulated to increase the risk of incident PTSD; however, research in this area is lacking. In this study, the association between receipt of prescription stimulants and PTSD was examined in a secondary analysis among active duty U.S. military members (n = 25,971), participating in the Millennium Cohort Study, who completed a baseline (2001-2003) and two follow-up surveys (between 2004-2008). Prescription stimulant data were obtained from the military Pharmacy Data Transaction Service. PTSD was assessed using the PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version and incident PTSD was defined as meeting the criteria at follow-up among those who did not have a history of PTSD at baseline. Overall, 1,215 (4.7%) persons developed new-onset PTSD during follow-up. Receipt of prescription stimulants were significantly associated with incident PTSD, hazard ratio = 5.09, 95% confidence interval [3.05, 8.50], after adjusting for sociodemographic factors, military characteristics, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, baseline mental and physical health status, deployment experiences, and physical/sexual trauma. Findings suggested that prescription stimulants are associated with incident PTSD among military personnel; these data may inform the underlying pathogenesis of and preventive strategies for PTSD.
- Publication Status: Published
- Sponsoring Organization: Defense Health Agency (formerly TRICARE Management Activity)
- Sponsoring Office: Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences
- Congressionally Mandated: No
- Funding Source: Undetermined
- Release Date/Publication: December 01, 2015
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Citation: Crum-Cianflone NF, Frasco MA, Armenta RF, Phillips CJ, Horton J, Ryan MA, Russell DW, LeardMann C. Prescription Stimulants and PTSD Among U. S. Military Service Members. J Trauma Stress. 2015 Dec;28(6):585-9.
Study
Abstract
IMPORTANCE: The US Army experienced a sharp increase in soldier suicides beginning in 2004. Administrative data reveal that among those at highest risk are soldiers in the 12 months after inpatient treatment of a psychiatric disorder.
OBJECTIVE: To develop an actuarial risk algorithm predicting suicide in the 12 months after US Army soldier inpatient treatment of a psychiatric disorder to target expanded posthospitalization care.
DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: There were 53 769 hospitalizations of active duty soldiers from January 1, 2004, through December 31, 2009, with International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification psychiatric admission diagnoses. Administrative data available before hospital discharge abstracted from a wide range of data systems (sociodemographic, US Army career, criminal justice, and medical or pharmacy) were used to predict suicides in the subsequent 12 months using machine learning methods (regression trees and penalized regressions) designed to evaluate cross-validated linear, nonlinear, and interactive predictive associations.
MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Suicides of soldiers hospitalized with psychiatric disorders in the 12 months after hospital discharge.
RESULTS: Sixty-eight soldiers died by suicide within 12 months of hospital discharge (12.0% of all US Army suicides), equivalent to 263.9 suicides per 100 000 person-years compared with 18.5 suicides per 100 000 person-years in the total US Army. The strongest predictors included sociodemographics (male sex [odds ratio (OR), 7.9; 95% CI, 1.9-32.6] and late age of enlistment [OR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.0-3.5]), criminal offenses (verbal violence [OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.2-4.0] and weapons possession [OR, 5.6; 95% CI, 1.7-18.3]), prior suicidality [OR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.7-4.9], aspects of prior psychiatric inpatient and outpatient treatment (eg, number of antidepressant prescriptions filled in the past 12 months [OR, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.1-1.7]), and disorders diagnosed during the focal hospitalizations (eg, nonaffective psychosis [OR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.2-7.0]). A total of 52.9% of posthospitalization suicides occurred after the 5% of hospitalizations with highest predicted suicide risk (3824.1 suicides per 100 000 person-years). These highest-risk hospitalizations also accounted for significantly elevated proportions of several other adverse posthospitalization outcomes (unintentional injury deaths, suicide attempts, and subsequent hospitalizations).
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The high concentration of risk of suicide and other adverse outcomes might justify targeting expanded posthospitalization interventions to soldiers classified as having highest posthospitalization suicide risk, although final determination requires careful consideration of intervention costs, comparative effectiveness, and possible adverse effects.
- Publication Status: Published
- Sponsoring Organization: Army
- Sponsoring Office:
- Congressionally Mandated: No
- Funding Source: Undetermined
- Release Date/Publication: November 01, 2014
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Citation: Kessler RC, et. al., Predicting Suicides After Psychiatric Hospitalization in US Army Soldiers: The Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Servicemembers (Army STARRS). JAMA Psychiatry. 2014 Nov 12.
Study
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Although interventions exist to reduce violent crime, optimal implementation requires accurate targeting. We report the results of an attempt to develop an actuarial model using machine learning methods to predict future violent crimes among US Army soldiers.
METHOD:
A consolidated administrative database for all 975 057 soldiers in the US Army in 2004-2009 was created in the Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Servicemembers (Army STARRS). Of these soldiers, 5771 committed a first founded major physical violent crime (murder-manslaughter, kidnapping, aggravated arson, aggravated assault, robbery) over that time period. Temporally prior administrative records measuring socio-demographic, Army career, criminal justice, medical/pharmacy, and contextual variables were used to build an actuarial model for these crimes separately among men and women using machine learning methods (cross-validated stepwise regression, random forests, penalized regressions). The model was then validated in an independent 2011-2013 sample.
RESULTS:
Key predictors were indicators of disadvantaged social/socioeconomic status, early career stage, prior crime, and mental disorder treatment. Area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve was 0.80-0.82 in 2004-2009 and 0.77 in the 2011-2013 validation sample. Of all administratively recorded crimes, 36.2-33.1% (male-female) were committed by the 5% of soldiers having the highest predicted risk in 2004-2009 and an even higher proportion (50.5%) in the 2011-2013 validation sample.
CONCLUSIONS:
Although these results suggest that the models could be used to target soldiers at high risk of violent crime perpetration for preventive interventions, final implementation decisions would require further validation and weighing of predicted effectiveness against intervention costs and competing risks.
- Publication Status: Published
- Sponsoring Organization: Defense Health Agency (formerly TRICARE Management Activity)
- Sponsoring Office: Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences
- Congressionally Mandated: No
- Funding Source: Undetermined
- Release Date/Publication: January 01, 2016
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Citation: Rosellini AJ, Monahan J, Street AE, Heeringa SG, Hill ED, Petukhova M. et.al., Predicting non-familial major physical violent crime perpetration in the US Army from administrative data. Psychol Med. 2016 Jan;46(2):303-16.
Study
Abstract
Combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan have resulted in up to 8.8% of combat-related casualties suffering burns. From World War I through Desert Storm, burns have been associated with approximately 4% of the combat-related deaths. Experiencing a blast injury and exposure to killing and death while deployed has been shown to increase suicide risk. Although several studies of military populations have investigated risk factors for death among burn patients during the acute phase, no studies have reported mortality rates, cause-of-death, or the prevalence of suicide after hospital discharge. This study examined the case fatality rate, causes of death, and the prevalence of suicide among 830 combat burn patients discharged from the sole burn center in the U.S. Department of Defense, between March 7, 2003 and March 6, 2013. Cause-of-death was determined through the Armed Forces Medical Examiner's Office and the Office of the Secretary of Defense's National Death Index. A total of 11 deaths occurred among the 830 burn survivors, for an overall case fatality rate of 1.3%. Of the 11 who died, five deaths were related to accidental poisoning by exposure to drugs; three were related to operations of war (two after returning to the war zone), and the remaining three died from other accidental causes (one explosion and two vehicle crashes). There was no indication of suicide or suspicion of suicide as a cause-of-death for the former patients included in this study, suggesting that combat burn injury did not appear to increase the risk of death by suicide in our study population. Further research is needed to understand the factors that contribute to the apparent resilience of combat burn survivors.This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives License 4.0 (CCBY-NC-ND), where it is permissible to download and share the work provided it is properly cited. The work cannot be changed in any way or used commercially.
- Publication Status: Published
- Sponsoring Organization: Defense Health Agency (formerly TRICARE Management Activity)
- Sponsoring Office: Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences
- Congressionally Mandated: No
- Funding Source: Undetermined
- Release Date/Publication: December 01, 2015
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Citation: Escolas SM, Archuleta DJ, Orman JA, Chung KK, Renz EM. Postdischarge Cause-of-Death Analysis of Combat-Related Burn Patients. J Burn Care Res. 2015 Dec 1.
Study
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
As more women enter the military, it is important to understand how different risks and lifestyle factors influence physical fitness and injury among women in both active duty (AD) and National Guard/Reserve (NG/R). Women in military service are less fit and more likely to suffer musculoskeletal injuries during physical training than men. They also use more medical care during deployment than men. Using data from the Comprehensive Soldier and Family Fitness Global Assessment Tool 2.0 (GAT 2.0), self-reported health and lifestyle and behavioral risk factors were analyzed in nondeployed Army personnel, with the goals of examining (1) service-component differences across traditional risk and lifestyle factors, and (2) correlates of physical performance and physical activity-related injury.
METHODS:
Self-report GAT 2.0 data included health risk factors (overall perceived health, sleep, diet, tobacco and alcohol use), self-reported health metrics (height, weight, Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) scores), and history of physical activity-related injury. The GAT 2.0 was completed by 1,322 AD and 1,033 NG/R women, and APFT data were available for a subsample of 605 AD and 582 NG/R women.
RESULTS:
Initial analyses of GAT 2.0 data indicated that AD had higher rates of fair/poor perceived health, poor sleep, and unhealthy diet compared to NG/R women. However, AD women had a lower APFT fail rate (8%) than NG (27%) and R (28%). Active duty women were more likely to experience a physical injury in the past 6 months (38%) than NG (19%) and R (22%) women, and more likely to seek medical care than NG/R women. Across all service components, predictive factors for APFT failure included high body mass index (BMI), fair/poor health, and unhealthy diet. Predictive factors for physical injury included high BMI, fair/poor health, and binge drinking.
CONCLUSION:
Our analyses suggest that AD women Soldiers are more physically fit than NG/R women Soldiers, which is accompanied by a greater prevalence of physical activity-related injuries. As women's roles expand into combat military occupation specialties, a thorough understanding of service component differences will be critical to inform training programs, mitigate physical injury, and enhance force health protection and readiness.
- Publication Status: Published
- Sponsoring Organization: Defense Health Agency (formerly TRICARE Management Activity)
- Sponsoring Office: Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences
- Congressionally Mandated: No
- Funding Source: Defense Health Agency (formerly TRICARE Management Activity)
- Release Date/Publication: April 01, 2015
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Citation: Kazman JB, de la Motte S, Bramhall EM, Purvis DL, Deuster PA. Physical fitness and injury reporting among active duty and National Guard/Reserve women: associations with risk and lifestyle factors. US Army Med Dep J. 2015 Apr-Jun:49-57
Study
Abstract
No abstract available
- Publication Status: Published
- Sponsoring Organization: Defense Health Agency (formerly TRICARE Management Activity)
- Sponsoring Office: Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
- Congressionally Mandated: No
- Funding Source: Defense Health Agency (formerly TRICARE Management Activity)
- Release Date/Publication: October 01, 2015
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Citation: Snyder S. Palliative Care in the U.S. Military Health System. Mil Med. 2015 Oct;180(10):1024-6.
Study
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
The U.S. population has shown increasing rates of overweight and obesity in recent years, but similar analyses do not exist for U.S. military personnel. It is important to understand these patterns in the military because of their impact on fitness and readiness.
PURPOSE:
To assess prevalence and trends in overweight/obesity among U.S. service members and to examine the associations of sociodemographic characteristics, exercise, depression, and substance use with these patterns.
METHODS:
Analyses performed in 2013 used five large population-based health-related behavior surveys conducted from 1995 to 2008. Main outcome measures were overweight and obesity among active duty military personnel based on BMI.
RESULTS:
Combined overweight and obesity (BMI≥25) increased from 50.6% in 1995 to 60.8% in 2008, primarily driven by the rise in obesity (BMI≥30) from 5.0% to 12.7%. For overweight, military women showed the largest increase. For obesity, all sociodemographic groups showed significant increases, with the largest among warrant officers, senior enlisted personnel, and people aged 36-45 years. Adjusted multinomial logit analyses found that service members aged 26 years and older, men, non-Hispanic blacks and Hispanics, enlisted personnel, married personnel, and heavy drinkers had the highest risk both for overweight and obesity.
CONCLUSIONS:
Combined overweight and obesity in active duty personnel rose to more than 60% between 1995 and 2008, primarily because of increased obesity. The high prevalence of overweight and obesity needs attention and has implications for Department of Defense efforts to improve the health, fitness, readiness, and quality of life of the Active Forces.
- Publication Status: Published
- Sponsoring Organization: Undetermined
- Sponsoring Office:
- Congressionally Mandated: No
- Funding Source: Undetermined
- Release Date/Publication: February 01, 2015
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Citation: Reyes-Guzman CM, Bray RM, Forman-Hoffman VL, Williams J. Overweight and obesity trends among active duty military personnel: a 13-year perspective. Am J Prev Med. 2015 Feb;48(2):145-53.
Study
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The U.S. population has shown increasing rates of overweight and obesity in recent years, but similar analyses do not exist for U.S. military personnel. It is important to understand these patterns in the military because of their impact on fitness and readiness.
PURPOSE: To assess prevalence and trends in overweight/obesity among U.S. service members and to examine the associations of sociodemographic characteristics, exercise, depression, and substance use with these patterns.
METHODS: Analyses performed in 2013 used five large population-based health-related behavior surveys conducted from 1995 to 2008. Main outcome measures were overweight and obesity among active duty military personnel based on BMI.
RESULTS: Combined overweight and obesity (BMI≥25) increased from 50.6% in 1995 to 60.8% in 2008, primarily driven by the rise in obesity (BMI≥30) from 5.0% to 12.7%. For overweight, military women showed the largest increase. For obesity, all sociodemographic groups showed significant increases, with the largest among warrant officers, senior enlisted personnel, and people aged 36-45 years. Adjusted multinomial logit analyses found that servicemembers aged 26 years and older, men, non-Hispanic blacks and Hispanics, enlisted personnel, married personnel, and heavy drinkers had the highest risk both for overweight and obesity.
CONCLUSIONS:
Combined overweight and obesity in active duty personnel rose to more than 60% between 1995 and 2008, primarily because of increased obesity. The high prevalence of overweight and obesity needs attention and has implications for DoD efforts to improve the health, fitness, readiness, and quality of life of the Active Forces.
- Publication Status: Published
- Sponsoring Organization: Undetermined
- Sponsoring Office:
- Congressionally Mandated: No
- Funding Source: Undetermined
- Release Date/Publication: November 01, 2014
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Citation: Reyes-Guzman CM, Bray RM, Forman-Hoffman VL, Williams J. Overweight and Obesity Trends Among Active Duty Military Personnel: A 13-Year Perspective. Am J Prev Med. 2014 Nov 6. pii: S0749-3797(14)00505-4. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2014.08.033.
Study
Abstract
Previous studies have found deployment to combat areas to be associated with an increased risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and alcohol abuse, but many previous studies were limited by samples that were not representative of the deployed military as a whole. This study presents an overview of these three mental health problems associated with deployment among Air Force, Army, Marine Corp, and Navy service members returning from deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan between January 2007 and March 2008. With postdeployment health data on over 50,000 service men and women, including diagnostic information, we were able to estimate prevalence of those who screened positive for risk of each disorder in self-report data at two time points, as well as prevalence of diagnoses received during health care encounters within the military health care system. The prevalence ranges of the three disorders were consistent with previous studies using similar measures, but service members in the Navy had higher rates of screening positive for all three disorders and higher prevalence of depression and PTSD diagnoses compared to the other branches. Further, PTSD risk was higher for service members returning from Afghanistan compared to Iraq, in contrast to previous findings.
- Publication Status: Published
- Sponsoring Organization: Defense Health Agency (formerly TRICARE Management Activity)
- Sponsoring Office: Defense Health Agency (formerly TRICARE Management Activity)
- Congressionally Mandated: No
- Funding Source: Undetermined
- Release Date/Publication: April 01, 2015
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Citation: Mustillo SA, et al., Overview of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and alcohol misuse among active duty service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, self-report and diagnosis. Mil Med. 2015 Apr;180(4):419-27
Study
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:
- Publication Status: Published
- Sponsoring Organization: Defense Health Agency (formerly TRICARE Management Activity)
- Sponsoring Office: Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
- Congressionally Mandated: No
- Funding Source: Defense Health Agency (formerly TRICARE Management Activity)
- Release Date/Publication: October 01, 2015
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Citation: Bolanos JA, Yuan CM, Little DJ, Oliver DK, Howard SR, Abbott KC, Olson SW. Outcomes After Post-Traumatic AKI Requiring RRT in United States Military Service Members. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2015 Oct 7;10(10):1732-9.
Study
Abstract
PURPOSE: To quantify the rate of surgical failure after anterior shoulder stabilization procedures, as well as to identify demographic and surgical risk factors associated with poor outcomes.
METHODS: All Army patients undergoing arthroscopic or open Bankart repair for shoulder instability were isolated from the Military Health System Management Analysis and Reporting Tool between 2003 and 2010. Demographic variables (age, gender) and surgical variables (treatment facility volume, admission status, surgical technique) were extracted. Rates of surgical failure, defined as subsequent revision surgery or medical discharge with persistent shoulder complaints, were recorded from the electronic medical record and US Army Physical Disability Agency database. Risk factor analysis was performed with univariate t tests, χ(2) tests, and a multivariable logistic regression model with failure as the outcome.
RESULTS: A total of 3,854 patients underwent Bankart repair during the study period, with most procedures having been performed arthroscopically (n = 3,230, 84%) and on an outpatient basis (n = 3,255, 84%). Patients were predominately men (n = 3,531, 92%), and the mean age was 28.0 years (SD, 7.5 years). A total of 193 patients (5.0%) underwent revision stabilization whereas 339 patients (8.8%) were medically discharged with complaints of shoulder instability, for a total combined failure rate of 13.8% (n = 532). Univariate analyses showed no significant effect for gender; however, younger age, higher facility volume, open repair, and inpatient status were significant factors associated with subsequent surgical failure. Multivariable analyses confirmed that young age (odds ratio [OR], 0.93; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.91 to 0.96; P < .001), open repair (OR, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.75; P = .001), and inpatient status (OR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.40 to 0.84; P = .004) were independently associated with failure by revision surgery.
CONCLUSIONS: Young age remains a significant risk factor for surgical failure after Bankart repair. Patients who underwent arthroscopic Bankart repair had a significantly lower surgical failure rate (4.5%) than patients who underwent open anterior stabilization (7.7%). Despite advances in surgical technique, 1 in 20 military service members required revision surgery after failed primary stabilization in this study.
- Publication Status: Published
- Sponsoring Organization: Army
- Sponsoring Office:
- Congressionally Mandated: No
- Funding Source: Army
- Release Date/Publication: February 01, 2014
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Citation: Waterman BR, Burns TC, McCriskin B, Kilcoyne K, Cameron KL, Owens BD. Outcomes after bankart repair in a military population: predictors for surgical revision and long-term disability. Arthroscopy. 2014 Feb;30(2):172-7.
Study
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Over the past 5 years, diagnoses for opiate abuse or dependency and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have increased across all U.S. military services. Moreover, in the United States, opiate prescription dependence and abuse has now surpassed all other illicit drugs of abuse with the exception of marijuana. Some research indicates that PTSD is predictive of substance dependence and abuse, while other research suggests that substance dependence and abuse may lead to events that trigger PTSD. This dichotomy has not been extensively explored within a military population.
METHODS: Using conditional multiple logistic regression analysis, a matched case-control study with 18,606 active-component U.S. military service members was conducted to examine the relationship between opiate dependence or abuse and PTSD.
RESULTS: Among the 18,606 service members included in the analysis, 21% were cases and 79% were controls. Thirteen percent of service members with substance dependence or abuse diagnosis had a prior PTSD diagnosis compared to 1% of controls. After, adjusting for sociodemographic and military characteristics, the odds of having a prior diagnosis of PTSD was 28 (95% CI: 21.24-37.78) times greater for service members with opiate abuse/dependency compared to controls.
CONCLUSION: These findings suggest active duty military personnel diagnosed with PTSD should be closely monitored to reduce the likelihood of future morbidity because of opiate dependence or abuse.
- Publication Status: Published
- Sponsoring Organization: Defense Health Agency (formerly TRICARE Management Activity)
- Sponsoring Office: Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center
- Congressionally Mandated: No
- Funding Source: Army
- Release Date/Publication: August 01, 2014
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Citation: Dabbs C, Watkins EY, Fink DS, Eick-Cost A, Millikan AM. Opiate-related dependence/abuse and PTSD exposure among the active-component U.S. military, 2001 to 2008. Mil Med. 2014 Aug;179(8):885-90.
Study
Abstract
BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Although occupational driving has been associated with low back pain, little has been reported on the incidence rates for this disorder.
PURPOSE: To determine the incidence rate and demographic risk factors of low back pain in an ethnically diverse and physically active population of US military vehicle operators.
STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: Retrospective database analysis.
PATIENT SAMPLE: All active-duty military service members between 1998 and 2006.
OUTCOME MEASURES: Low back pain requiring visit to a health-care provider.
METHODS: A query was performed using the US Defense Medical Epidemiology Database for the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification code for low back pain (724.20). Multivariate Poisson regression analysis was used to estimate the rate of low back pain among military vehicle operators and control subjects per 1,000 person-years, while controlling for sex, race, rank, service, age, and marital status.
RESULTS: A total of 8,447,167 person-years of data were investigated. The overall unadjusted low back pain incidence rate for military members whose occupation is vehicle operator was 54.2 per 1,000 person-years. Compared with service members with other occupations, motor vehicle operators had a significantly increased adjusted incidence rate ratio (IRR) for low back pain of 1.15 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.13-1.17). Female motor vehicle operators, compared with males, had a significantly increased adjusted IRR for low back pain of 1.45 (95% CI 1.39-1.52). With senior enlisted as the referent category, the junior enlisted rank group of motor vehicle operators had a significantly increased adjusted IRR for low back pain: 1.60 (95% CI 1.52-1.70). Compared with Marine service members, those motor vehicle operators in both the Army, 2.74 (95% CI 2.60-2.89), and the Air Force, 1.98 (95% CI 1.84-2.14), had a significantly increased adjusted IRR for low back pain. The adjusted IRRs for the less than 20-year and more than 40-year age groups, compared with the 30- to 39-year age group, were 1.24 (1.15-1.36) and 1.23 (1.10-1.38), respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: Motor vehicle operators have a small but statistically significantly increased rate of low back pain compared with matched control population.
- Publication Status: Published
- Sponsoring Organization: Army
- Sponsoring Office:
- Congressionally Mandated: No
- Funding Source: Undetermined
- Release Date/Publication: April 01, 2014
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Citation: Knox JB, Orchowski JR, Scher DL, Owens BD, Burks R, Belmont PJ Jr. Occupational driving as a risk factor for low back pain in active-duty military service members. Spine J. 2014 Apr;14(4):592-7.
Study
Abstract
This article summarizes presentations from a 2014 United States Department of Defense (DoD) Health Affairs Women in Combat symposium addressing physiological, musculoskeletal injury, and optimized physical training considerations from the operational physical performance section. The symposium was held to provide a state-of-the-science meeting on the U.S. DoD's rescinding of the ground combat exclusion policy opening up combat-centric occupations to women. Physiological, metabolic, body composition, bone density, cardiorespiratory fitness, and thermoregulation differences between men and women were briefly reviewed. Injury epidemiological data are presented within military training and operational environments demonstrating women to be at a higher risk for musculoskeletal injuries than men. Physical training considerations for improved muscle strength and power, occupational task performance, load carriage were also reviewed. Particular focus of this article was given to translating physiological and epidemiological findings from the literature on these topics toward actionable guidance and policy recommendations for military leaders responsible for military physical training doctrine: (1) inclusion of resistance training with special emphasis on strength and power development (i.e., activation of high-threshold motor units and recruitment of type II high-force muscle fibers), upper-body strength development, and heavy load carriage, (2) moving away from "field expediency" as the major criteria for determining military physical training policy and training implementation, (3) improvement of load carriage ability with emphasis placed on specific load carriage task performance, combined with both resistance and endurance training, and (4) providing greater equipment resources, coaching assets, and increased training time dedicated to physical readiness training.
- Publication Status: Published
- Sponsoring Organization: Defense Health Agency (formerly TRICARE Management Activity)
- Sponsoring Office: Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences
- Congressionally Mandated: No
- Funding Source: Undetermined
- Release Date/Publication: January 01, 2016
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Citation: Nindl BC, Jones BH, Van Arsdale SJ, Kelly K, Kraemer WJ. Operational Physical Performance and Fitness in Military Women. Mil Med. 2016 Jan;181(1 Suppl):50-62.
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