Health impact of US military service in a large population-based military cohort: findings of the Millennium Cohort Study, 2001-2008

Abstract

BackgroundCombat-intense, lengthy, and multiple deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan have characterized the new millennium. The US military's all-volunteer force has never been better trained and technologically equipped to engage enemy combatants in multiple theaters of operations. Nonetheless, concerns over potential lasting effects of deployment on long-term health continue to mount and are yet to be elucidated. This report outlines how findings from the first 7 years of the Millennium Cohort Study have helped to address health concerns related to military service including deployments.MethodsThe Millennium Cohort Study was designed in the late 1990s to address veteran and public concerns for the first time using prospectively collected health and behavioral data.ResultsOver 150 000 active-duty, reserve, and National Guard personnel from all service branches have enrolled, and more than 70% of the first 2 enrollment panels submitted at least 1 follow-up survey. Approximately half of the Cohort has deployed in support of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.ConclusionThe Millennium Cohort Study is providing prospective data that will guide public health policymakers for years to come by exploring associations between military exposures and important health outcomes. Strategic studies aim to identify, reduce, and prevent adverse health outcomes that may be associated with military service, including those related to deployment.

Suicides Among Military Personnel

“…5 Specifically, studies conducted with relatively younger samples of military personnel (mean age <30 years) tend to report nonsignificant or small effects, whereas studies with relatively older samples of veterans (mean age >30 years) tend to report larger effects. Combat exposure may therefore be a risk factor for older, but not younger, military personnel and veterans, which may suggest a delayed effect of deployment or combat that extends beyond the length of time considered in the study by LeardMann et al 1 We agree with the primary conclusion of LeardMann et al that early identification and treatment of psychiatric disorders among military personnel and veterans is an important part of suicide prevention in this population. However, the relationship of deployment-related variables with suicide risk is likely much more complex than what was considered.…”

Effects of Iraq/Afghanistan Deployments on Major Depression and Substance Use Disorder: Analysis of Active Duty Personnel in the US Military

“…This finding was consistent with previous literature that found that women had a higher likelihood of reporting symptoms of depression. 12,24,25 We could not ascertain, however, whether this might be because women more actively sought treatment of the depression symptoms, or that they were more likely to develop major depression in the military environment. However, evidence on gender and depression suggested that women were not more likely to seek treatment.…”

“…Research based on the Millennium Cohort Study (MCS), 12,13 which used self-administered surveys and tracked both active duty personnel and those separated from the military, compared health outcomes for those deployed in support of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars with those not deployed. The MCS found that men and women deployed with combat exposure had, respectively, 1.32 and 2.…”

Sleep Characteristics, Mental Health, and Diabetes Risk

“…The surveys were administered via paper and the Internet and included questions on self-reported provider-diagnosed medical conditions, mental health symptoms, physical and functional status, alcohol and tobacco use, occupational status, military exposures, sleep patterns, and demographic information. Details on Millennium Cohort methodology can be found elsewhere (14–16). This study was approved by the Naval Health Research Center institutional review board, and informed consent was obtained from all study participants.…”