Disease and Non-Battle Injuries Among U.S. Marines in Vietnam.
Abstract
The objective of this study was to describe disease and non-battle injuries among U.S. Marine Corps personnel stationed in Vietnam between 1965 and 1972. The Marine Corps Inpatient Medical Data File at the Naval Health Research Center was searched for all first hospital admissions among male U.S. Marines throughout the world during the study period. Odds ratios were used to compare the rates of first hospitalization for Marines stationed in Vietnam with rates of Marines stationed elsewhere. In all but two diagnostic categories, the risk of first hospitalizations among U.S. Marines stationed in Vietnam was significantly higher than it was for Marines stationed elsewhere. This was particularly true for infective and parasitic diseases, and symptoms and ill-defined conditions. The high relative risks also indicated that almost all forms of disease and injury morbidity increased under combat conditions. For every 100 persons hospitalized for a combat-related wound or injury in Vietnam, 128 were hospitalized for a disease and non-battle injury. Combat casualty medical care resource allocation and planning should take into consideration the scope and nature of these medical conditions in a combat environment. Keywords: Epidemiology.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1986
- Accession Number
- ADA177969
Entities
People
- Lawrence A Palinkas
- Patrica Coben
Organizations
- Naval Health Research Center