The Impact of Deployment and Combat Exposure on Physical Health Among Military Personnel: A Systematic Review of Incidence, Prevalence, and Risks

CONCLUSION: Given the characteristics of included studies and extracted data, the magnitude of the found differences in incidence and prevalence rates is most likely to be due to methodological heterogeneity. The specific exposures (e.g., infrastructure, environmental conditions, and activities during deployment) are suggested to be the determinants of (post) deployment physical health problems and need to be addressed to decrease the impact of deployment. Findings from this systematic review highlight which conditions should be addressed in response to service members' health and wellness needs in the (post)deployment phase and may be used by clinicians, researchers, and policy-makers. However, knowledge gaps regarding the potential risk factors during deployment and combat still exist. Studies using consistent methods to define and measure the physical health conditions and specific exposures are needed.PMID:34296281 | DOI:10.1093/milmed/usab302
Source: Military Medicine - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Source Type: research