Illness and injury risk and healthcare utilization, United States Air Force battlefield airmen and security forces, 2000-2005.
OBJECTIVE
To study the illness and injury risk and healthcare utilization of male U.S. Air Force (USAF) battlefield airmen in comparison to male USAF security forces.


METHODS
Using data in electronic format, battlefield airmen (n = 2,089) and security forces personnel (n = 19,416) were identified and matched to data from the Military Health System, with analyses conducted to explore hospitalization risks and healthcare utilization differences.


RESULTS
Battlefield airmen were at an increased risk for hospitalizations for illnesses (HR = 1.35, 95% CI 1.03, 1.77), musculoskeletal conditions (HR = 2.28, 95% CI 1.47, 3.52), and injuries (HR = 3.34, 95% CI 2.38, 4.69) compared with security forces. Differences in the mean number of hospitalization days per person and mean outpatient medical costs also existed across the groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Battlefield airmen are significantly more likely to be hospitalized for a number of illnesses and injuries in comparison to security forces. A surveillance study has been implemented to further explore these findings.
Human Effectiveness Directorate, 2800 Q Street, Bldg. 824, Rm. 206, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH 45433, USA.
Diane
D
Warha
Timothy
T
Webb
Timothy
T
Wells
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D006772:Hospitals, Military / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008887:Military Medicine; D008889:Military Personnel; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012306:Risk; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014857:Warfare; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*