Abraham Joseph H, Eick-Cost Angie, Clark Leslie L, Hu Zheng, Baird Coleen P, DeFraites Robert, Tobler Steven K, Richards Erin E, Sharkey Jessica M, Lipnick Robert J, Ludwig Sharon L
U.S. Army Public Health Command, 5158 Blackhawk Road Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, 21010.
Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center, 11800 Tech Road Silver Spring, MD, 20910.
Mil Med. 2014 May;179(5):540-6. doi: 10.7205/MILMED-D-13-00443.
Deployed military personnel are exposed to inhalational hazards that may increase their risk of chronic lung conditions. This evaluation assessed associations between Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) deployment and postdeployment medical encounters for respiratory symptoms and medical conditions. This retrospective cohort study was conducted among military personnel who, between January 2005 and June 2007, were deployed to either of two locations with burn pits in Iraq, or to either of two locations without burn pits in Kuwait. Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) were estimated using two nondeployed reference groups. Rates among personnel deployed to burn pit locations were also compared directly to those among personnel deployed to locations without burn pits. Significantly elevated rates of encounters for respiratory symptoms (IRR = 1.25; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.20-1.30) and asthma (IRR = 1.54; 95% CI: 1.33-1.78) were observed among the formerly deployed personnel relative to U.S.-stationed personnel. Personnel deployed to burn pit locations did not have significantly elevated rates for any of the outcomes relative to personnel deployed to locations without burn pits. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that OIF deployment is associated with subsequent risk of respiratory conditions. Elevated medical encounter rates were not uniquely associated with burn pits.
部署的军事人员面临吸入性危害，这可能会增加他们患慢性肺部疾病的风险。本评估分析了伊拉克自由行动（OIF）部署与部署后因呼吸道症状和疾病进行医疗问诊之间的关联。这项回顾性队列研究在2005年1月至2007年6月期间被部署到伊拉克两个有燃烧坑的地点之一或科威特两个没有燃烧坑的地点之一的军事人员中进行。发病率比（IRR）使用两个未部署的参照组进行估计。部署到有燃烧坑地点的人员的发病率也与部署到没有燃烧坑地点的人员的发病率直接进行比较。与驻美人员相比，在曾部署过的人员中观察到呼吸道症状（IRR = 1.25；95%置信区间[CI]：1.20 - 1.30）和哮喘（IRR = 1.54；95%CI：1.33 - 1.78）的问诊率显著升高。与部署到没有燃烧坑地点的人员相比，部署到有燃烧坑地点的人员在任何一项结果上的发病率均未显著升高。这些结果与OIF部署与随后患呼吸道疾病风险相关的假设一致。医疗问诊率升高并非仅与燃烧坑有关。
