title: Respiratory symptoms necessitating spirometry among soldiers with Iraq/Afghanistan war lung injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  New-onset asthma rates are higher among US soldiers deployed to Iraq/Afghanistan than stateside, but overall respiratory symptom and spirometry rates among soldiers returning from Iraq/Afghanistan have not yet been addressed. We determined these rates in soldiers deployed to Iraq/Afghanistan versus troops stationed elsewhere.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective review of active-duty soldiers (2004 to 2010) registered at Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Northport, New York, with Long Island/New York City zip codes. Subjects were examined by physicians or physicians' assistants. We counted number of spirometries, which required respiratory symptoms, and the provider was required to submit a diagnosis as part of the request process.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-five percent of 7151 troops went to Iraq/Afghanistan (n = 1816) and 75% went elsewhere (n = 5335), with more smokers in the Iraq/Afghanistan group (16.1% vs 3.3%). Rates of symptoms and spirometry were 14.5% and 1.8%, for Iraq/Afghanistan, versus troops deployed elsewhere, respectively (P < 0.001). Both groups had similar forced expired volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity ratios (78%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  New-onset Iraq/Afghanistan war lung injury is common and rates of symptoms leading to a diagnosis requiring spirometry are high.
authors.affiliation: Allergy Section, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Northport, New York 11768, USA. anthony.szema@stonybrook.edu
authors.forename: Anthony M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Szema
authors.forename: Walid
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Salihi
authors.forename: Khalil
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Savary
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D013147:Spirometry; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014797:Vital Capacity; D055815:Young Adult