The impact of deployment on COPD in active duty military personnel.
Publication Status: Published
Sponsoring Organization: Army
Sponsoring Office:
Congressionally Mandated: No
Funding Source: Army
Release Date/Publication: November 01, 2014
Principle Investigator Status: Government
Primary DoD Data Source: Military Health System (MHS) Data Repository
Secondary DoD Data Source:
Abstract
PURPOSE: To identify trends in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) diagnoses among active duty U.S. military personnel based on deployment history and whether International Classification of Disease, 9th edition (ICD-9) coding meet criteria for the diagnosis of COPD.
METHODS: A retrospective chart review using the electronic medical system was conducted for military personnel diagnosed with COPD based on ICD-9 codes for emphysema or chronic obstructive lung disease with at least three qualifying outpatient COPD-coded encounters. Clinical symptoms, smoking history, pulmonary function testing, and radiographs obtained during the diagnostic workup were reviewed. The established diagnosis of COPD was analyzed in relation to deployment.
RESULTS: A total of 371 patients were identified during the study period (2005-2009). Of these patients, 194 (52.3%) deployed, whereas 177 (47.7%) did not deploy to Southwest Asia since 2003. Thirty-four percent had no documented smoking history despite the diagnosis of COPD. Airway obstruction was identified by spirometry in only 67% of individuals diagnosed with COPD. No statistically significant differences in pulmonary function testing values were identified between those deployed and nondeployed individuals.
CONCLUSION: Despite evidence of increased respiratory symptoms in deployed military personnel, the impact of deployment on increased diagnosis of COPD or severity of disease appears minimal.
Citation:
Matthews T, Abraham J, Zacher LL, Morris MJ. The impact of deployment on COPD in active duty military personnel. Mil Med. 2014 Nov;179(11):1273-8.