Citation

MSMR 2019; 26(11): 17-26.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, U.S. Armed Forces Surveillance Center)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

31804847

Abstract

From July 2018 through June 2019, a total of 513 members of the active (n=446) and reserve (n=67) components had at least 1 medical encounter with a primary diagnosis of cold injury. The crude overall incidence rate of cold injury for all active component service members in 2018-2019 (36.5 per 100,000 person-years [p-yrs]) was slightly higher than the rate for the 2017-2018 cold season (35.8 per 100,000 p-yrs) and was the highest rate during the 5-year surveillance period. In 2018-2019, frostbite was the most common type of cold injury among active component service members in all 4 services. Among active component members during the 2014-2019 cold seasons, overall rates of cold injuries were generally highest among males, non-Hispanic black service members, the youngest (less than 20 years old), and those who were enlisted. As noted in prior MSMR updates, the rate of all cold injuries among active component Army members was higher in women than in men because of a much higher rate of frostbite among female soldiers. The number of cold injuries associated with overseas deployments during the 2018-2019 cold season (n=24) was the highest count during the 5-year surveillance period.

Language: en