Study
Abstract
Base rates of low ANAM4 TBI-MIL scores were calculated in a convenience sample of 733 healthy male active duty soldiers using available military reference values for the following cutoffs: ≤2nd percentile (2 SDs), ≤5th percentile, <10th percentile, and <16th percentile (1 SD). Rates of low scores were also calculated in 56 active duty male soldiers who sustained an mTBI an average of 23 days (SD = 36.1) prior. 22.0% of the healthy sample and 51.8% of the mTBI sample had two or more scores below 1 SD (i.e., 16th percentile). 18.8% of the healthy sample and 44.6% of the mTBI sample had one or more scores ≤5th percentile. Rates of low scores in the healthy sample were influenced by cutoffs and race/ethnicity. Importantly, some healthy soldiers obtain at least one low score on ANAM4. These base rate analyses can improve the methodology for interpreting ANAM4 performance in clinical practice and research.
- Publication Status: Published
- Sponsoring Organization: Defense Health Agency (formerly TRICARE Management Activity)
- Sponsoring Office: Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center
- Congressionally Mandated: No
- Funding Source:
- Release Date/Publication: February 01, 2015
-
Citation: Ivins BJ, Lange RT, Cole WR, Kane R, Schwab KA, Iverson GL. Using base rates of low scores to interpret the ANAM4 TBI-MIL battery following mild traumatic brain injury. Arch Clin Neuropsychol. 2015 Feb;30(1):26-38.
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:
- Release Date/Publication: February 01, 2015
-
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
Understanding the factors that influence veterans' functional outcome after deployment is critical to provide appropriately targeted care. Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been related to disability, but other psychiatric and behavioral conditions are not as well examined. We investigated the impact of deployment-related psychiatric and behavioral conditions on disability among 255 OEF/OIF/OND service members and veterans. Structured clinical interviews assessed TBI and the psychiatric conditions of depression, PTSD, anxiety, and substance use. Self-report questionnaires assessed disability and the behavioral conditions of sleep disturbance and pain. Over 90% of participants had a psychiatric and/or behavioral condition, with approximately half presenting with ≥ 3 conditions. Exploratory factor analysis revealed 4 clinically relevant psychiatric and behavioral factors which accounted for 76.9% of the variance: (a) depression, PTSD, and military mTBI (deployment trauma factor); (b) pain and sleep (somatic factor); (c) anxiety disorders, other than PTSD (anxiety factor); and (d) substance abuse or dependence (substance use factor). Individuals with the conditions comprising the deployment trauma factor were more likely to be substantially disabled than individuals with depression and PTSD, but no military mTBI, OR = 3.52; 95% CI [1.09, 11.37]. Depression, PTSD, and a history of military mTBI may comprise an especially harmful combination associated with high risk for substantial disability.
- Publication Status: Published
- Sponsoring Organization: Defense Health Agency (formerly TRICARE Management Activity)
- Sponsoring Office: Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center
- Congressionally Mandated: No
- Funding Source:
- Release Date/Publication: February 01, 2015
-
Citation: Lippa SM, Fonda JR, Fortier CB, Amick MA, Kenna A, Milberg WP, McGlinchey RE. Deployment-related psychiatric and behavioral conditions and their association with functional disability in OEF/OIF/OND veterans. J Trauma Stress. 2015 Feb;28(1):25-33.
Study
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Limb injuries comprise 50-60% of U.S. Service member's casualties of wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Combat-related vascular injuries are present in 12% of this cohort, a rate 5 times higher than in prior wars. Improvements in medical and surgical trauma care, including initial in-theatre limb salvage approaches (IILS) have resulted in improved survival and fewer amputations, however, the long-term outcomes such as morbidity, functional decline, and risk for late amputation of salvaged limbs using current process of care have not been studied. The long-term care of these injured warfighters poses a significant challenge to the Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
METHODS/DESIGN:
The VA Vascular Injury Study (VAVIS): VA-DoD Extremity Injury Outcomes Collaborative, funded by the VA, Health Services Research and Development Service, is a longitudinal cohort study of Veterans with vascular extremity injuries. Enrollment will begin April, 2015 and continue for 3 years. Individuals with a validated extremity vascular injury in the Department of Defense Trauma Registry will be contacted and will complete a set of validated demographic, social, behavioral, and functional status measures during interview and online/ mailed survey. Primary outcome measures will: 1) Compare injury, demographic and geospatial characteristics of patients with IILS and identify late vascular surgery related limb complications and health care utilization in Veterans receiving VA vs. non-VA care, 2) Characterize the preventive services received by individuals with vascular repair and related outcomes, and 3) Describe patient-reported functional outcomes in Veterans with traumatic vascular limb injuries.
DISCUSSION:
This study will provide key information about the current process of care for Active Duty Service members and Veterans with polytrauma/vascular injuries at risk for persistent morbidity and late amputation. The results of this study will be the first step for clinicians in VA and military settings to generate evidence-based treatment and care approaches to these injuries. It will identify areas where rehabilitation medicine and vascular specialty care or telehealth options are needed to allow for better planning, resource utilization, and improved DoD-to-VA care transitions.
- 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: Government, academic, or industry source other than Federal Government
- Release Date/Publication: February 01, 2015
-
Citation: Shireman PK, Rasmussen TE, Jaramillo CA, Pugh MJ. VA Vascular Injury Study (VAVIS): VA-DoD extremity injury outcomes collaboration. BMC Surg. 2015 Feb 3;15:13. doi: 10.1186/1471-2482-15-13.
Study
Abstract
Objective:
To determine the association between psychiatric evacuation from Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) and demographic, military, and deployment characteristics of deploying Service members. The increased frequency of psychiatric evacuations since 2004 has been anecdotally attributed to the cumulative effects of multiple deployments, or the increased reliance on Reserve and National Guard units, but quantitative evidence is lacking.
Study Design:
This observational study used retrospectively-collected deployment and aeromedical evacuation records to calculate psychiatric evacuation rates, characterize the evacuation circumstances, and quantify the rates of re-deployment after evacuation. Descriptive statistics were used to compare characteristics for psychiatric evacuees with those of other deployers. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to assess the likelihood of psychiatric evacuation based on Service, component, personal demographics, year of military accession, theater of first deployment, and number of deployments. Statistical significance was assessed at a 95% confidence level.
Population Studied:
All Service members evacuated from OEF/OIF from January 2003 through September 2010 with a primary or secondary psychiatric diagnosis (ICD-9 codes 290 – 319), on their evacuation record; and a 20% random sampling of all other deployers who did not psychiatrically evacuate (N = 364,047).
Principle Findings:
After applying sample weights, a total of 0.3% (n = 5887) deployers experienced one or more psychiatric evacuations. Relative to other deployers, psychiatric evacuees were significantly over-represented by females (14.8% versus 11.4%); age group 17 – 24 years (55.4% versus 44.8); whites (69.9% versus 65.6%); and those with a high school diploma or less (83.8% versus 73.6%); those never married (49.1% versus 47.8%); and those with one or two dependents (37.1% versus 34.7%). Elevated psychiatric evacuation rates were observed inconsistently across both combat and noncombat duty assignments. A total of 3951 (67.1%) of evacuees evacuated upon first deployment and 1553 (26.4%) of evacuees evacuated on second deployment. Among all psychiatric evacuees, 4754 (80.8%) never turned to theater or redeployed after they evacuated. Depression (24.9%), post-traumatic stress disorder (24.9%), and psychotic illness (18.4%) accounted for two-thirds of evacuation diagnoses. Drug and alcohol-related disorders accounted for less than 3% of psychiatric evacuations. After adjusting for personal demographics and deployment characteristics, Army Active Duty members had the highest likelihood of psychiatric evacuation, followed by Army National Guard (AOR = 0.852, 95% CI 0.790, 0.919), Army Reserve (AOR = 0.825, 95% CI 0.740, 0.919), Navy Reserve (AOR = 0.585, 95% CI 0.461, 0.742), and Marine Active Duty (AOR = 0.390, 95% CI 0.353, 0.0.430).
Conclusions:
This study identified psychiatric evacuation as primarily an Army burden, and an Active Duty burden within the Army. While other studies have linked violent combat-related exposures to adverse, post-deployment mental and behavioral health outcomes, the contribution of multiple deployments or prolonged combat exposure to an outcome of psychiatric evacuation is not apparent in these findings. Further study is warranted to isolate and mitigate the underlying causes of this growing and costly contributor to unit attrition.
- 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: January 01, 2015
-
Citation: Wilmoth MC, Williams TV, et.al., Factors associated with psychiatric evacuation among service members deployed to operation enduring freedom and operation iraqi freedom, january 2004 to september 2010. Mil Med. 2015 Jan;180(1):53-60.
Study
Abstract
The emergence of invasive fungal wound infections (IFIs) in combat casualties led to development of a combat trauma-specific IFI case definition and classification. Prospective data were collected from 1133 US military personnel injured in Afghanistan (June 2009-August 2011). The IFI rates ranged from 0·2% to 11·7% among ward and intensive care unit admissions, respectively (6·8% overall). Seventy-seven IFI cases were classified as proven/probable (n = 54) and possible/unclassifiable (n = 23) and compared in a case-case analysis. There was no difference in clinical characteristics between the proven/probable and possible/unclassifiable cases. Possible IFI cases had shorter time to diagnosis (P = 0·02) and initiation of antifungal therapy (P = 0·05) and fewer operative visits (P = 0·002) compared to proven/probable cases, but clinical outcomes were similar between the groups. Although the trauma-related IFI classification scheme did not provide prognostic information, it is an effective tool for clinical and epidemiological surveillance and research.
- 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: Agency, office or organization under authority of the Sec Def (not affiliated to Army, Navy, or Air Force)
- Release Date/Publication: January 01, 2015
-
Citation: Weintrob AC, et. al., Combat trauma-associated invasive fungal wound infections: epidemiology and clinical classification. Epidemiol Infect. 2015 Jan;143(1):214-24.
Study
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Although women have served in the U.S. military officially since 1901, the medical needs of women in combat have historically been poorly understood. Recent expansion of the opportunities females may now play in combat roles has created an urgent need for a review of how Department of Defense supports females as they transition into these new roles, as well as current science related to key aspects of the health of female warriors. There is currently no systematic institutional structure in place to regularly and methodically examine gaps in policy, research, and treatment for issues related to women in combat.
METHOD:
This article serves as a brief overview and introduction to some of the critical topics related to the health of women in combat roles, to include women's health issues research and treatment efforts, physiological differences between sexes, and leadership and unit factors.
CONCLUSION:
The Department of Defense should continue to explore and address policy, research, and practice related to the complex ongoing needs of military females in combat roles, and ensures sufficient staffing, resources and support from senior military leaders.
- Publication Status: Published
- Sponsoring Organization: Defense Health Agency (formerly TRICARE Management Activity)
- Sponsoring Office: Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury
- Congressionally Mandated: No
- Funding Source:
- Release Date/Publication: January 01, 2015
-
Citation: Moosey M. Communicating Difficult and Taboo Information: A How-To Guide for Commanders. Mil Med. 2016 Jan;181(1 Suppl):40-3.
Study
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
The prevalence of suicide among U.S. Army soldiers has risen dramatically in recent years. Prior studies suggest that most soldiers with suicidal behaviors (i.e., ideation, plans, and attempts) had first onsets prior to enlistment. However, those data are based on retrospective self-reports of soldiers later in their Army careers. Unbiased examination of this issue requires investigation of suicidality among new soldiers.
METHOD:
The New Soldier Study (NSS) of the Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Servicemembers (Army STARRS) used fully structured self-administered measures to estimate preenlistment histories of suicide ideation, plans, and attempts among new soldiers reporting for Basic Combat Training in 2011-2012. Survival models examined sociodemographic correlates of each suicidal outcome.
RESULTS:
Lifetime prevalence estimates of preenlistment suicide ideation, plans, and attempts were 14.1, 2.3, and 1.9%, respectively. Most reported onsets of suicide plans and attempts (73.3-81.5%) occurred within the first year after onset of ideation. Odds of these lifetime suicidal behaviors among new soldiers were positively, but weakly associated with being female, unmarried, religion other than Protestant or Catholic, and a race/ethnicity other than non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, or Hispanic.
CONCLUSIONS:
Lifetime prevalence estimates of suicidal behaviors among new soldiers are consistent with retrospective reports of preenlistment prevalence obtained from soldiers later in their Army careers. Given that prior suicidal behaviors are among the strongest predictors of later suicides, consideration should be given to developing methods of obtaining valid reports of preenlistment suicidality from new soldiers to facilitate targeting of preventive interventions.
- 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: January 01, 2015
-
Citation: Ursano RJ, et al. Prevalence and correlates of suicidal behavior among new soldiers in the U.S. Army: results from the Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Servicemembers (Army STARRS). Depress Anxiety. 2015 Jan;32(1):3-12.
Study
Abstract
IMPORTANCE:
Improvement has been anecdotally observed in patients with persistent postconcussion symptoms (PCS) after mild traumatic brain injury following treatment with hyperbaric oxygen (HBO). The effectiveness of HBO as an adjunctive treatment for PCS is unknown to date.
OBJECTIVES:
To compare the safety of and to estimate the efficacy for symptomatic outcomes from standard PCS care alone, care supplemented with HBO, or a sham procedure.
DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS:
Multicenter, double-blind, sham-controlled clinical trial of 72 military service members with ongoing symptoms at least 4 months after mild traumatic brain injury enrolled at military hospitals in Colorado, North Carolina, California, and Georgia between April 26, 2011, and August 24, 2012. Assessments occurred before randomization, at the midpoint, and within 1 month after completing the interventions.
INTERVENTIONS:
Routine PCS care was provided in specialized clinics. In addition, participants were randomized 1:1:1 to 40 HBO sessions administered at 1.5 atmospheres absolute (ATA), 40 sham sessions consisting of room air at 1.2 ATA, or no supplemental chamber procedures.
MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES:
The Rivermead Post-Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire (RPQ) served as the primary outcome measure. A change score of at least 2 points on the RPQ-3 subscale (range, 0-12) was defined as clinically significant. Change scores from baseline were calculated for the RPQ-3 and for the total RPQ. Secondary measures included additional patient-reported outcomes and automated neuropsychometric testing.
RESULTS:
On average, participants had sustained 3 lifetime mild traumatic brain injuries; the most recent occurred 23 months before enrollment. No differences were observed between groups for improvement of at least 2 points on the RPQ-3 subscale (25% in the no intervention group, 52% in the HBO group, and 33% in the sham group; P = .24). Compared with the no intervention group (mean change score, 0.5; 95% CI, -4.8 to 5.8; P = .91), both groups undergoing supplemental chamber procedures showed improvement in symptoms on the RPQ (mean change score, 5.4; 95% CI, -0.5 to 11.3; P = .008 in the HBO group and 7.0; 95% CI, 1.0-12.9; P = .02 in the sham group). No difference between the HBO group and the sham group was observed (P = .70). Chamber sessions were well tolerated.
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE:
Among service members with persistent PCS, HBO showed no benefits over sham compressions. Both intervention groups demonstrated improved outcomes compared with PCS care alone. This finding suggests that the observed improvements were not oxygen mediated but may reflect nonspecific improvements related to placebo effects.
- 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:
- Release Date/Publication: January 01, 2015
-
Citation: Miller RS et al., Effects of hyperbaric oxygen on symptoms and quality of life among service members with persistent postconcussion symptoms: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA Intern Med. 2015 Jan;175(1):43-52.
Study
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
The number of lymph nodes examined during colon cancer surgery falls below nationally recommended guidelines in the general population, with Blacks and Hispanics less likely to have adequate nodal evaluation in comparison to Whites. The Department of Defense's (DoD) Military Health System (MHS) provides equal access to medical care for its beneficiaries, regardless of racial/ethnic background. This study aimed to investigate whether racial/ethnic treatment differences exist in the MHS, an equal-access medical care system.
METHODS:
Linked data from the DoD cancer registry and administrative claims databases were used and included 2,155 colon cancer cases. Multivariate logistic regression assessed the association between race/ethnicity and the number of lymph nodes examined (<12 and ≥12) overall and for stratified analyses.
RESULTS:
No overall racial/ethnic differences in the number of lymph nodes examined was identified. Further stratified analyses yielded similar results, except potential racial/ethnic differences were found among persons with poorly differentiated tumors, where non-Hispanic Blacks tended to be less likely to have ≥12 lymph nodes dissected (odds ratio 0.34; 95 % confidence interval 0.14-0.80; p = 0.01) compared with non-Hispanic Whites.
CONCLUSION:
Racial/ethnic disparities in the number of lymph nodes evaluated among patients with colon cancer were not apparent in an equal-access healthcare system. However, among poorly differentiated tumors there might be racial/ethnic differences in nodal yield, suggesting the possible effects of factors other than access to healthcare.
- 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: January 01, 2015
-
Citation: Gill AA, Zahm SH, Shriver CD, Stojadinovic A, McGlynn KA, Zhu K. Colon cancer lymph node evaluation among military health system beneficiaries: an analysis by race/ethnicity. Ann Surg Oncol. 2015 Jan;22(1):195-202
Study
Abstract
Although there is literature evaluating infectious complications associated with combat-related injuries from Iraq and Afghanistan, none have evaluated pneumonia specifically. Therefore, we assessed a series of pneumonia cases among wounded military personnel admitted to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, and then evacuated further to participating U.S. military hospitals. Of the 423 casualties evacuated to the United States, 36 developed pneumonia (8.5%) and 30 of these (83.3%) were ventilator-associated. Restricting to 162 subjects admitted to intensive care, 30 patients had pneumonia (18.5%). The median Injury Severity Score was higher among subjects with pneumonia (23.0 vs. 6.0; p < 0.01). There were 61 first-isolate respiratory specimens recovered from 31 pneumonia subjects, of which 56.1% were gram-negative, 18.2% were gram-positive, and 18.2% were fungal. Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were most commonly recovered (10.6%, and 9.1%, respectively). Thirteen bacterial isolates (26.5%) were multidrug-resistant. Outcome data were available for 32 patients, of which 26 resolved their infection without progression, 5 resolved after initial progression, and 1 died. Overall, combat-injured casualties suffer a relatively high rate of pneumonia, particularly those requiring mechanical ventilation. Although gram-negative pathogens were common, S. aureus was most frequently isolated. Continued focus on pneumonia prevention strategies is necessary for improving combat care.
Reprint & Copyright © 2015 Association of Military Surgeons of the U.S.
- Publication Status: Published
- Sponsoring Organization: Army
- Sponsoring Office: Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences
- Congressionally Mandated: No
- Funding Source: Agency, office or organization under authority of the Sec Def (not affiliated to Army, Navy, or Air Force)
- Release Date/Publication: January 01, 2015
-
Citation: Yun HC, et al. Infectious Disease Clinical Research Program Trauma Infectious Disease Outcomes Study Group. Healthcare-associated pneumonia among U.S. combat casualties, 2009 to 2010. Mil Med. 2015 Jan;180(1):104-10.
Study
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Human rhinovirus (HRV) is a major cause of influenza-like illness (ILI) in adults and children. Differences in disease severity by HRV species have been described among hospitalized patients with underlying illness. Less is known about the clinical and virologic characteristics of HRV infection among otherwise healthy populations, particularly adults.
OBJECTIVES:
To characterize molecular epidemiology of HRV and association between HRV species and clinical presentation and viral shedding.
STUDY DESIGN:
Observational, prospective, facility-based study of ILI was conducted from February 2010 to April 2012. Collection of nasopharyngeal specimens, patient symptoms, and clinical information occurred on days 0, 3, 7, and 28. Patients recorded symptom severity daily for the first 7 days of illness in a symptom diary. HRV was identified by RT-PCR and genotyped for species determination. Cases who were co-infected with other viral respiratory pathogens were excluded from the analysis. We evaluated the associations between HRV species, clinical severity, and patterns of viral shedding.
RESULTS:
Eighty-four HRV cases were identified and their isolates genotyped. Of these, 62 (74%) were >18 years. Fifty-four were HRV-A, 11HRV-B, and 19HRV-C. HRV-C infection was more common among children than adults (59% vs. 10%, P<0.001). Among adults, HRV-A was associated with higher severity of upper respiratory symptoms compared to HRV-B (P=0.02), but no such association was found in children. In addition, adults shed HRV-A significantly longer than HRV-C (P trend=0.01).
CONCLUSIONS:
Among otherwise healthy adults with HRV infection, we observed species-specific differences in respiratory symptom severity and duration of viral shedding.
- 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:
- Release Date/Publication: January 01, 2015
-
Citation: Chen WJ, et. al., Epidemiologic, clinical, and virologic characteristics of human rhinovirus infection among otherwise healthy children and adults: rhinovirus among adults and children. J Clin Virol. 2015 Mar;64:74-82.
Study
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate anecdotal reports suggesting that repeated exposure to low-level explosive blast has myriad health impacts, including an array of neurological effects.
PARTICIPANTS:
A total of 184 anonymous survey respondents from military and nonmilitary law enforcement populations (135 exposed to occupational blast and 49 controls).
DESIGN:
Survey of self-reported history of occupational exposure to repeated low-level blast (breaching blast) and symptomology similar to concussion.
RESULTS:
Findings suggest that number and severity of symptoms increase with history of chronic blast exposure (F = 18.26, P < .001) and that symptoms can interfere with daily activity (t = 2.60, P = .010).
CONCLUSION:
Given the prevalence of repeated exposure to blast among some military and civilian law enforcement occupations, the results of this survey study support a role for blast surveillance programs as well as continued research on health impacts of low-level repeated blast exposure.
- 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:
- Release Date/Publication: January 01, 2015
-
Citation: Carr W, Polejaeva E, Grome A, Crandall B, LaValle C, Eonta SE, Young LA. Relation of repeated low-level blast exposure with symptomology similar to concussion. J Head Trauma Rehabil. 2015 Jan-Feb;30(1):47-55.
Study
Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB) remains a global threat to the U.S. armed forces. A single individual with TB disease exerts an immediate and disruptive impact upon patients' lives, military operations, and daily functioning at military treatment facilities. Medical personnel in operational or limited-resource settings are sometimes challenged to perform a TB outbreak investigation with minimal specialized training or limited logistic assistance. This article presents a case of a patient with TB disease presenting to a large military treatment facility and outlines the current, evidence-based recommendations for performing a TB outbreak investigation.
- 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: January 01, 2015
-
Citation: Moore AC, Clausen SS, Johnson LA. Tuberculosis contact investigation in a military health care setting: case report and evidence review. Mil Med. 2015 Jan;180(1):38-44
Study
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
To determine the factor structure of persistent postconcussive syndrome symptoms in a blast-exposed military sample and validate factors against objective and symptom measures.
SETTING:
Veterans Affairs medical center and military bases.
PARTICIPANTS:
One hundred eighty-one service members and veterans with at least 1 significant exposure to blast during deployment within the 2 years prior to study enrollment.
DESIGN:
Confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses of the Rivermead Postconcussion Questionnaire.
MAIN MEASURES:
Rivermead Postconcussion Questionnaire, PTSD (posttraumatic stress disorder) Symptom Checklist-Civilian, Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale, Sensory Organization Test, Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test, California Verbal Learning Test, and Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System subtests.
RESULTS:
The 3-factor structure of persistent postconcussive syndrome was not confirmed. A 4-factor structure was extracted, and factors were interpreted as reflecting emotional, cognitive, visual, and vestibular functions. All factors were associated with scores on psychological symptom inventories; visual and vestibular factors were also associated with balance performance. There was no significant association between the cognitive factor and neuropsychological performance or between a history of mild traumatic brain injury and factor scores.
CONCLUSION:
Persistent postconcussive symptoms observed months after blast exposure seem to be related to 4 distinct forms of distress, but not to mild traumatic brain injury per se, with vestibular and visual factors possibly related to injury of sensory organs by blast.
- Publication Status: Published
- Sponsoring Organization: Defense Health Agency (formerly TRICARE Management Activity)
- Sponsoring Office: Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center
- Congressionally Mandated: No
- Funding Source: Agency, office or organization under authority of the Sec Def (not affiliated to Army, Navy, or Air Force)
- Release Date/Publication: January 01, 2015
-
Citation: Franke LM, Czarnota JN, Ketchum JM, Walker WC. Factor analysis of persistent postconcussive symptoms within a military sample with blast exposure. J Head Trauma Rehabil. 2015 Jan-Feb;30(1):
Showing results 1 - 15
Page 1 of 15