Original Contribution Newly Reported Respiratory Symptoms and Conditions AmongMilitary Personnel Deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan: A Prospective Population-based Study

Concerns about respiratory conditions have surfaced among persons deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. Data on 46,077 Millennium Cohort Study participants who completed baseline (July 2001–June 2003) and follow-up (June 2004–February 2006) questionnaires were used to investigate 1) respiratory symptoms (persistent or recurring cough or shortness of breath), 2) chronic bronchitis or emphysema, and 3) asthma. Deployers had a higher rate of newly reported respiratory symptoms than nondeployers (14 % vs. 10%), while similar rates of chronic bronchitis or emphysema (1 % vs. 1%) and asthma (1 % vs. 1%) were observed. Deployment was associated with respiratory symptoms in both Army (adjusted odds ratio 1.73, 95 % confidence interval: 1.57, 1.91) and Marine Corps (adjusted odds ratio 1.49, 95 % confidence interval: 1.06, 2.08) personnel, independently of smoking status. Deployment length was linearly associated with increased symptom reporting in Army personnel (P < 0.0001). Among deployers, elevated odds of symptoms were associated with land-based deployment as compared with sea-based deployment. Although respiratory symptoms were associated with deployment, inconsistency in risk with cumulative exposure time suggests that specific exposures rather than deployment in general are determi-nants of postdeployment respiratory illness. Significant associations seen with land-based deployment also imply that exposures related to ground combat may be important. longitudinal studies; lung diseases; military personnel; signs and symptoms, respirator