The impact of combat deployment on asthma diagnosis and severity

DelVecchio, Sally; Collen, Jacob; Zacher, Lisa L.; Morris, Michael J.

doi:10.3109/02770903.2014.973502

Cited by 22 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…Fifty percent had never deployed, 25% were diagnosed before deployment, whereas 25% of the those with asthma were diagnosed after deployment. 5 There were no differences in pulmonary function tests or asthma severity based on the time of diagnosis or deployment history. 5 The utility of spirometry would be in a population with a higher rate of respiratory disease such as recommended for specific occupational exposures.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

“…5 There were no differences in pulmonary function tests or asthma severity based on the time of diagnosis or deployment history. 5 The utility of spirometry would be in a population with a higher rate of respiratory disease such as recommended for specific occupational exposures. However, both the epidemiologic and clinical data from southwest Asia deployments since 2013 have not demonstrated increases in lung disease.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

“…4 This study did not address any asthma symptoms or related conditions that existed before deployment when assuming that the findings were all "new-onset asthma." Delvecchio et al 5 conducted an in-depth medical record review of 400 active duty military personnel diagnosed with asthma who were undergoing a medical fitness for duty evaluation due to persistent asthma symptoms. Fifty percent had never deployed, 25% were diagnosed before deployment, whereas 25% of the those with asthma were diagnosed after deployment.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…2 Current evidence for a causative association between these exposures and the development of chronic pulmonary disease is limited. [3][4][5] Our initial study, STAMPEDE I, evaluated 50 soldiers within 6 months for new-onset respiratory symptoms during deployment. 3 The 2010 Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center report 6 concluded, based on very limited evidence, that exposures to burn pit smoke did not seem to increase the risk for pulmonary complications.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Study of Active Duty Military Personnel for Environmental Deployment Exposures: Pre- and Post-Deployment Spirometry (STAMPEDE II)

et al. 2019

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BACKGROUND: There is significant concern about the respiratory health of deployed military service members given the reported airborne hazards in southwest Asia, which range from geologic dusts, burn pit emissions, chemical exposures, and increased rates of smoking. There has been no previous comparison of pre-and post-deployment lung function in these individuals. METHODS: Military personnel who deployed to southwest Asia in support of ongoing military operations were recruited from the Soldier Readiness Processing Center at Fort Hood, Texas, from 2011 to 2014. The participants were asked to complete a brief survey on their respiratory health and perform both spirometry and impulse oscillometry studies at baseline with repeated survey and testing after deployment. RESULTS: Of the 1,693 deployed personnel who completed baseline examinations, 843 (50%) completed post-deployment testing. Post-deployment values demonstrated no statistical or clinical change in spirometry, with an increase in mean ؎ SD FEV 1 (% predicted) from 95.2 ؎ 12.6 to 96.1 ؎ 12.4 (P ‫؍‬ .14), increase in mean ؎ SD FVC (% predicted) from 95.9 ؎ 11.8 to 96.4 ؎ 11.9 (P ‫؍‬ .32), and increase in mean ؎ SD FEV 1 /FVC from 81.5 ؎ 5.9 to 81.8 ؎ 6.1 (P ‫؍‬ .29). Impulse oscillometry values showed statistical improvement with reduction in resistance (at 5 Hz and 20 Hz) and reactance (at 5 Hz). The presence of pre-deployment obstruction, self-reported asthma, smoking history, or increased body mass index also did not change spirometry values after deployment. DISCUSSION: To our knowledge, this was the first prospective evaluation of deploying military by using spirometry as an indicator for the possible development of pulmonary disease related to environmental exposures. Pre-deployment testing with spirometry and impulse oscillometry was unable to detect any significant change. In those with abnormal spirometry pre-deployment or asthma history, there was also not identifiable change that indicated worsening lung function. CONCLUSIONS: Utilization of spirometry for the deploying military population had little benefit and did not identify individuals with lung disease after deployment. Routine use was not warranted before or after deployment in the absence of pulmonary symptoms.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Study of Active Duty Military Personnel for Environmental Deployment Exposures: Pre- and Post-Deployment Spirometry (STAMPEDE II)

et al. 2019

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“…Despite this suggested correlation, the development of true respiratory disease is controversial . In a recent prospective study of 46,077 deployed soldiers, an increased risk of asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was not found.…”

Section: Impact On the Lower Respiratory Tractmentioning

confidence: 99%