Olivier Aoun1, Cédric Roqueplo2, Christophe Rapp3. 1. Centre médical des armées de Colmar, 2 rue des Belges, 68000 Colmar, France. Electronic address: olivier.aoun@gmail.com. 2. Antenne vétérinaire du centre médical des armées de Strasbourg, France. Electronic address: cedric.roqueplo@wanadoo.fr. 3. Service des maladies infectieuses et tropicales, Hôpital d'instruction des armées Bégin, 69 avenue de Paris, 94160 Saint-Mandé, France; Ecole du Val de Grace, Paris, France. Electronic address: rappchristophe5@gmail.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: More than 15 000 French soldiers are continuously deployed abroad. Along with combat-related injuries, they are exposed to non-combat-related diseases with an underestimated burden. Our objectives were to assess the incidence and impact of health problems on their operating capacity. METHODS: A prospective multicenter study was conducted over more than three months in Lebanon, Côte d'Ivoire and Afghanistan including exclusively French soldiers. RESULTS: We collected 4349 consultations (Afghanistan {n = 719}, Lebanon {n = 1401} and Côte d'Ivoire {n = 2229}) encompassing 4600 health problems. Injuries (21%), diarrhea (19%), dermatoses (17.5%) and respiratory tract infections (10.45%) were the most frequent health issues. Infectious diseases represented 41% of all health problems. Almost nine out of ten patients were managed as outpatients. Ten combat-related deaths were observed. We reported 68 (1.5%) medical repatriations of which 28 and 26 were psychiatric and trauma cases respectively. Partial or complete incapacity was estimated 724 days/1000 men/month. Etiological spectrum was similar in all three countries however, the incidence of diarrhea (p < 0.05) as well as inpatient management and medical evacuation rates were higher (p < 0.0001) in Afghanistan. CONCLUSIONS: There was a wide spectrum of health problems occurring during military deployments with a predominance of common infections. Non-combat-related pathology represented an important burden for the loss of operating capacity.
BACKGROUND: More than 15 000 French soldiers are continuously deployed abroad. Along with combat-related injuries, they are exposed to non-combat-related diseases with an underestimated burden. Our objectives were to assess the incidence and impact of health problems on their operating capacity. METHODS: A prospective multicenter study was conducted over more than three months in Lebanon, Côte d'Ivoire and Afghanistan including exclusively French soldiers. RESULTS: We collected 4349 consultations (Afghanistan {n = 719}, Lebanon {n = 1401} and Côte d'Ivoire {n = 2229}) encompassing 4600 health problems. Injuries (21%), diarrhea (19%), dermatoses (17.5%) and respiratory tract infections (10.45%) were the most frequent health issues. Infectious diseases represented 41% of all health problems. Almost nine out of ten patients were managed as outpatients. Ten combat-related deaths were observed. We reported 68 (1.5%) medical repatriations of which 28 and 26 were psychiatric and trauma cases respectively. Partial or complete incapacity was estimated 724 days/1000 men/month. Etiological spectrum was similar in all three countries however, the incidence of diarrhea (p < 0.05) as well as inpatient management and medical evacuation rates were higher (p < 0.0001) in Afghanistan. CONCLUSIONS: There was a wide spectrum of health problems occurring during military deployments with a predominance of common infections. Non-combat-related pathology represented an important burden for the loss of operating capacity.
Authors: Mark S Riddle; Gregory J Martin; Clinton K Murray; Timothy H Burgess; Patrick Connor; James D Mancuso; Elizabeth R Schnaubelt; Timothy P Ballard; Jamie Fraser; David R Tribble Journal: Mil Med Date: 2017-09 Impact factor: 1.437