title: Bronchodilator Responsiveness and Airflow Limitation Are Associated With Deployment Length in Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between deployment length and indices of airflow obstruction in Iraq and Afghanistan veterans with airborne hazards exposure.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred twenty-four post-9/11 veterans completed pulmonary function testing and questionnaires. We examined the association of airflow limitation [forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC)] and bronchodilator responsiveness (ΔFEV1 and ΔFVC) with deployment length, adjusting for smoking.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Longer deployment length was associated with lower FEV1/FVC [β = -0.19; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), -0.39 to 0.01], greater ΔFEV1 (β = 0.27; 95% CI, 0.09 to 0.45) and ΔFVC (β = 0.19; 95% CI, 0.05 to 0.33). In our model adjusted for smoking history, longer deployment length remained associated with greater ΔFEV1 and ΔFVC (P < 0.01), but not with FEV1/FVC (P = 0.059).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our sample of post-9/11 veterans, longer deployment lengths were associated with significant bronchodilator responsiveness and a trend toward airflow limitation independent of tobacco use.
authors.affiliation: War Related Illness and Injury Study Center, Department of Veterans Affairs New Jersey Health Care System, East Orange (Dr Falvo, Dr Osinubi, Dr Klein, Dr Sotolongo, Mr Ndirangu, Ms Patrick-DeLuca, Dr Helmer); Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (Dr Falvo); Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, New Jersey Medical School, Newark (Drs Falvo, Helmer); US Army Public Health Center, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Gunpowder, MD (Dr Abraham); Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Piscataway (Dr Osinubi); Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ (Dr Sotolongo).
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Falvo
authors.forename: Joseph H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Abraham
authors.forename: Omowunmi Y
authors.initials: OY
authors.lastname: Osinubi
authors.forename: Jacquelyn C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: Anays M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Sotolongo
authors.forename: Duncan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ndirangu
authors.forename: Lydia A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Patrick-DeLuca
authors.forename: Drew A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Helmer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D000368:Aged; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States; D014728:Veterans; D014797:Vital Capacity; D055815:Young Adult