title: What pre-deployment and early post-deployment factors predict health function after combat deployment?: a prospective longitudinal study of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF)/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) soldiers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Physical and mental function are strong indicators of disability and mortality. OEF/OIF Veterans returning from deployment have been found to have poorer function than soldiers who have not deployed; however the reasons for this are unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective cohort of 790 soldiers was assessed both pre- and immediately after deployment to determine predictors of physical and mental function after war.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On average, OEF/OIF Veterans showed significant declines in both physical (t=6.65, p<.0001) and mental function (t=7.11, p<.0001). After controlling for pre-deployment function, poorer physical function after deployment was associated with older age, more physical symptoms, blunted systolic blood pressure reactivity and being injured. After controlling for pre-deployment function, poorer mental function after deployment was associated with younger age, lower social desirability, lower social support, greater physical symptoms and greater PTSD symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combat deployment was associated with an immediate decline in both mental and physical function. The relationship of combat deployment to function is complex and influenced by demographic, psychosocial, physiological and experiential factors. Social support and physical symptoms emerged as potentially modifiable factors.
authors: Department of Veterans Affairs, NJ War Related Illness & Injury Study Center, East Orange, NJ 07018, USA. Lisa.mcandrew@va.gov
authors: Lisa M
authors: LM
authors: McAndrew
authors: Elizabeth
authors: E
authors: D'Andrea
authors: Shou-En
authors: SE
authors: Lu
authors: Bhavna
authors: B
authors: Abbi
authors: Grace W
authors: GW
authors: Yan
authors: Charles
authors: C
authors: Engel
authors: Karen S
authors: KS
authors: Quigley
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D016014:Linear Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D032024:Personnel Delegation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
references: Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2005 Apr;34(5):755-65
references: 15846592
references: Hypertension. 2010 Apr;55(4):1026-32
references: 20194301
references: J Occup Environ Med. 2012 Jun;54(6):665-9
references: 22684317
references: Child Abuse Negl. 2012 May;36(5):423-32
references: 22633055
references: J Trauma Stress. 2011 Dec;24(6):660-70
references: 22162082
references: J Nerv Ment Dis. 1999 Jun;187(6):353-9
references: 10379722
references: Psychosom Med. 2002 Mar-Apr;64(2):258-66
references: 11914441
references: Soc Sci Med. 1991;32(6):705-14
references: 2035047
references: Health Serv Res. 2005 Aug;40(4):1234-46
references: 16033502
references: J Occup Environ Med. 2012 Jun;54(6):659-64
references: 22588478
references: J Abnorm Psychol. 1974 Jun;83(3):268-77
references: 4844914
references: Clin Psychol Rev. 2009 Dec;29(8):727-35
references: 19744758
references: Am J Public Health. 2009 Sep;99(9):1651-8
references: 19608954
references: J Rehabil Res Dev. 2008;45(3):347-58
references: 18629744
references: Am J Physiol. 1990 Feb;258(2 Pt 2):R291-7
references: 2137989
references: Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2010 Jun;67(6):614-23
references: 20530011
references: Psychol Med. 2009 Aug;39(8):1379-87
references: 18945380
references: Soc Sci Med. 1999 Jun;48(12):1721-34
references: 10405011
references: Am J Psychiatry. 2007 Jan;164(1):150-3
references: 17202557
references: Mil Med. 2002 Jun;167(6):483-8
references: 12099084
references: JAMA. 1999 Apr 14;281(14):1298-303
references: 10208145
references: Pain Med. 2009 Oct;10(7):1174-82
references: 19818029
references: Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2002 Dec;83(12 Suppl 2):S4-9
references: 12474166
references: J Rehabil Res Dev. 2011;48(10):1145-58
references: 22234660
references: J Nerv Ment Dis. 2008 May;196(5):425-8
references: 18477887
references: J Psychosom Res. 2008 Jan;64(1):33-40
references: 18157997
references: Biol Psychol. 2011 Feb;86(2):106-13
references: 20347924
references: JAMA. 2007 Nov 14;298(18):2141-8
references: 18000197
references: J Pers Soc Psychol. 1998 Feb;74(2):420-34
references: 9491585
references: Ann Behav Med. 2001 Fall;23(4):313-7
references: 11761349
references: Arch Intern Med. 1998 Mar 23;158(6):626-32
references: 9521227
references: Nurs Res. 1994 Jul-Aug;43(4):196-202
references: 8047422
references: BMC Public Health. 2012 Dec 28;12:1124
references: 23272950
references: Med Care. 1992 Jun;30(6):473-83
references: 1593914
references: Arch Intern Med. 2000 Nov 27;160(21):3252-7
references: 11088086
references: Arch Intern Med. 2007 Mar 12;167(5):476-82
references: 17353495
references: Am J Epidemiol. 2003 Jan 15;157(2):141-8
references: 12522021
references: Am J Public Health. 2010 Feb;100(2):276-83
references: 20019304