Citation

MSMR 2018; 25(7): 17-22.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, U.S. Armed Forces Surveillance Center)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

30047275

Abstract

In 2017, a total of 626 medical evacuations of service members from the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility were followed by at least one medical encounter in a fixed medical facility outside the operational theater. There were more medical evacuations for mental health disorders than for any other category of illnesses or injuries. Annual rates of medical evacuations attributable to battle injuries decreased from 3.5 per 1,000 deployed personyears [dp-yrs] (n=317) in 2013 to a low of 0.73 per 1,000 dp-yrs (n=28) in 2016, and then increased to 1.4 per 1,000 dp-yrs (n=53) in 2017. Annual rates of medical evacuations attributable to non-battle injuries and illnesses were relatively stable from 2015 through 2017. Compared to their respective counterparts, medical evacuation rates were highest among non-Hispanic black service members, among those aged 19 years or younger or aged 45 years or older, among Army members, and among those in combat-specific occupations. Most service members who were evacuated were returned to normal duty status following their post-evacuation hospitalizations or outpatient encounters.

Language: en