Department of Surgery, Central Military Hospital, Utrecht, the Netherlands
Defense Healthcare Organization, Ministry of Defense, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
BMJ Mil Health. 2020 Nov;166(E):e13-e16. doi: 10.1136/jramc-2019-001194. Epub 2019 Apr 20.
Throughout history, diseases and non-battle injuries (DNBI) have threatened deployed forces more than battlefield injuries. During the Dutch involvement in Afghanistan, the amount of DNBI that needed medical evacuation out of theatre (60%) exceeded the number of battle injuries (40%). The aim of this study is to explore the long-term quality of life (QoL) of Dutch service members that acquired a DNBI, warranting repatriation during their deployment to Afghanistan between 2003 and 2014.
Observational cross-sectional cohort study in a selected group of Dutch service members who deployed to Afghanistan 2003-2014 and were repatriated due to DNBI. Using the 36-item Short Form, EuroQol-6D, Symptom Checklist 90 and Post Deployment Reintegration Scale questionnaires, their outcomes were compared with a control group of deployed service members who did not sustain injuries or illnesses.
Groups were comparable in age, rank, number of deployments and social status. There were significant differences found in terms of physical functioning, pain and health perspective. No differences were seen in emotional or psychological outcomes.
The amount of military service members who contract a DNBI is significant and imposes a burden on the capacity of the medical support, readiness of deployed units and sustainability of ongoing operations. However, regarding QoL, being forced to leave their units and to be repatriated to their home country due to a DNBI seems to have no significant impact on reported psychological symptoms of distress and reintegration experiences. Future research should focus on more in-depth registration of illnesses and not combat related diseases and injuries and even longer-term outcomes.
纵观历史，疾病和非战斗性损伤（DNBI）对部署部队的威胁超过了战斗性损伤。在荷兰参与阿富汗期间，需要从战区医疗后送的 DNBI 数量（60%）超过了战斗性损伤的数量（40%）。本研究旨在探讨在 2003 年至 2014 年期间部署到阿富汗期间因 DNBI 而需要遣返的荷兰军人的长期生活质量（QoL）。
对 2003-2014 年部署到阿富汗且因 DNBI 而被遣返的荷兰军人中选定的一组军人进行观察性横断面队列研究。使用 36 项简短表格、EuroQol-6D、症状清单 90 和部署后整合量表问卷，将他们的结果与未受伤或患病的部署军人的对照组进行比较。
两组在年龄、军衔、部署次数和社会地位方面具有可比性。在身体机能、疼痛和健康视角方面存在显著差异。在情感或心理结果方面没有差异。
因 DNBI 而招募的军人数量很多，这对医疗支持能力、部署部队的准备情况和正在进行的行动的可持续性造成了负担。然而，就生活质量而言，由于 DNBI 而被迫离开部队并被遣返到自己的祖国，似乎对报告的心理困扰症状和再整合经历没有重大影响。未来的研究应侧重于更深入地登记疾病，而不是与战斗有关的疾病和损伤，甚至是更长期的结果。
