Chronic respiratory symptoms following deployment-related occupational and environmental exposures among US veterans. Occup Environ Med 2024 Feb 02;81(2):59-65
Date
11/16/2023Pubmed ID
37968126Pubmed Central ID
PMC10872566DOI
10.1136/oemed-2023-109146Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85180936178 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 1 CitationAbstract
OBJECTIVES: Characterise inhalational exposures during deployment to Afghanistan and Southwest Asia and associations with postdeployment respiratory symptoms.
METHODS: Participants (n=1960) in this cross-sectional study of US Veterans (Veterans Affairs Cooperative Study 'Service and Health Among Deployed Veterans') completed an interviewer-administered questionnaire regarding 32 deployment exposures, grouped a priori into six categories: burn pit smoke; other combustion sources; engine exhaust; mechanical and desert dusts; toxicants; and military job-related vapours gas, dusts or fumes (VGDF). Responses were scored ordinally (0, 1, 2) according to exposure frequency. Factor analysis supported item reduction and category consolidation yielding 28 exposure items in 5 categories. Generalised linear models with a logit link tested associations with symptoms (by respiratory health questionnaire) adjusting for other covariates. OR were scaled per 20-point score increment (normalised maximum=100).
RESULTS: The cohort mean age was 40.7 years with a median deployment duration of 11.7 months. Heavy exposures to multiple inhalational exposures were commonly reported, including burn pit smoke (72.7%) and VGDF (72.0%). The prevalence of dyspnoea, chronic bronchitis and wheeze in the past 12 months was 7.3%, 8.2% and 15.6%, respectively. Burn pit smoke exposure was associated with dyspnoea (OR 1.22; 95% CI 1.06 to 1.47) and chronic bronchitis (OR 1.22; 95% CI 1.13 to 1.44). Exposure to VGDF was associated with dyspnoea (OR 1.29; 95% CI 1.14 to 1.58) and wheeze (OR 1.18; 95% CI 1.02 to 1.35).
CONCLUSION: Exposures to burn pit smoke and military occupational VGDF during deployment were associated with an increased odds of chronic respiratory symptoms among US Veterans.
Author List
Garshick E, Redlich CA, Korpak A, Timmons AK, Smith NL, Nakayama K, Baird CP, Ciminera P, Kheradmand F, Fan VS, Hart JE, Koutrakis P, Kuschner W, Ioachimescu O, Jerrett M, Montgrain PR, Proctor SP, Wan ES, Wendt CH, Wongtrakool C, Blanc PDAuthor
Octavian C. Ioachimescu MD, PhD Vice Chair, Director, Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdultBronchitis, Chronic
Cross-Sectional Studies
Dust
Dyspnea
Environmental Exposure
Gases
Humans
Occupational Exposure
Smoke
Veterans
