title: Assessing the safety of anthrax immunization in US Army aircrew members via physical examination.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Anthrax in weaponized form is the bioterrorism agent of most concern. Questions raised about the safety of the anthrax vaccine can be addressed by comparing immunized and unimmunized people in population-based studies.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective evaluation of data from periodic physical examinations collected on anthrax-immunized and -unimmunized US Army aircrew members between 1998 and 2005 was performed to evaluate the safety of anthrax immunization. Mean changes in variables found on physical examination and laboratory analysis were compared by use of t tests. Multiple linear regression predicted change in outcome from baseline characteristics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We compared 6,820 immunized subjects and 4,145 unimmunized controls based on US Army aircrew physical examination and screening laboratory tests. No association between anthrax immunization and a clinically relevant change in a tested physiologic parameter was detected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No attributable risk of anthrax immunization was observed in this group of Army aircrew members.
authors.affiliation: Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA. jill.downing@bmc.org
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Downing
authors.forename: Thomas W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Greig
authors.forename: Martin D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Quattlebaum
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valentin
authors.forename: Timothy C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Heeren
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Grabenstein
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000881:Anthrax / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001359:Aviation; D023482:Bioterrorism; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D010808:Physical Examination; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014481:United States