Description of Pre-Existing Conditions in Deployed Air Force Personnel Serving in Operations IRAQI and ENDURING FREEDOM

Description of Pre-Existing Conditions Among Deployed Air Force Personnel in Operations IRAQI and ENDURING FREEDOM, FY2001-2005.

Purpose: To compare proportions of pre-existing and/or chronic conditions among Active Duty Air Force (ADAF) personnel and Air Force Reservists/Air National Guard (Guard-Reserve) personnel deployed in support of Operations IRAQI and ENDURING FREEDOM (FY 2001-2005).

Methods: Data were extracted from the Transportation Command Regulating and Command and Control Evacuation System (TRAC2ES), the Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) and the Global Expeditionary Medical System (GEMS). The history free-text fields in TRAC2ES were examined to determine the potential pre-existing nature of the disease. Diagnosis codes in GEMS were used to determine the frequency of outpatient visits for chronic conditions that occurred during deployment. Denominator data were obtained from DMDC and used to link the datasets.

Results: From the data available in TRAC2ES, mental disorders in ADAF were significantly higher (p<0.01) than in Guard-Reserve, whereas circulatory system diseases in ADAF were significantly lower (p<0.01) than in Guard-Reserve. From GEMS, mental disorders, migraines and back pain were significantly higher (p<0.01) in ADAF than in Guard-Reserve; diabetes, hypertension and dental problems were significantly higher (p<0.01) in Guard-Reserve than in ADAF.

Conclusion: This precursory examination of the available disease and non-battle injury data for deployed troops allowed an initial description of differences in theater medical care for ADAF vs. Guard-Reserve. It is important to continue analysis to further explore for potential differences, especially with an increase in deployments for Guard-Reserve troops for extended periods of time.