ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Environmental exposures during military deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan may lead to higher rates of respiratory complaints and diagnoses. This study investigates whether there is a relationship between rates of asthma diagnosis and severity associated with military deployment. METHODS: Retrospective review of active duty Army personnel underwent fitness for duty evaluation (Medical Evaluation Board) for asthma. The electronic medical record was reviewed for onset of diagnosis (pre- or post-deployment), disease severity, screening spirometry, bronchodilator response and bronchoprovocation testing. We compared patients with and without a history of combat deployment to Operations Iraqi Freedom/Enduring Freedom. RESULTS: Four hundred consecutive Army personnel with a clinical diagnosis of asthma were evaluated. Equal numbers of patients had deployed (48.5%) versus never deployed (51.5%). Of those who deployed, 98 (24.5%) were diagnosed post-deployment. The diagnosis of asthma was objectively confirmed in 74.8% of patients by obstructive screening spirometry, bronchodilator response, and/or methacholine challenge testing. There were no significant differences in spirometry between deployers and non-deployers or based on pre- and post-deployment diagnosis. Similarly, asthma severity classification did not differ between deployed and non-deployed service members, or by pre- and post-deployment diagnosis status. CONCLUSIONS: Among active duty military personnel with career limiting asthma, there is no significant relationship between rates of diagnosis or severity based on history of deployment to Southwest Asia.
Subject(s)
Afghan Campaign 2001- , Asthma/epidemiology , Iraq War, 2003-2011 , Military Personnel/statistics & numerical data , Adolescent , Adult , Afghanistan , Bronchial Provocation Tests , Electronic Health Records , Female , Humans , Iraq , Male , Respiratory Function Tests , Retrospective Studies , Severity of Illness Index , Young AdultABSTRACT
A 43-year-old African American man with known human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection was found to have adult-onset Still's disease manifesting as fever of unknown origin. In the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy, HIV-infected patients are preserving their immune status and, thus, must be evaluated in a manner similar to that for the general population.
