Health Risks Among Submarine Personnel in the U.S. Navy, 1974-1979

Abstract

This study evaluated health risks associated with U.S. Navy submarine duty by comparing hospitalization rates of submarines with surface ship personnel. The groups were compared on age-adjusted hospitalization rates for 16 major diagnostic categories and several specific diagnoses postulated to be submarine associated. Submarine personnel did not have significantly higher hospitalization rates for any diagnostic categories nor for any of the submarine associated illnesses. Submariner relative risk of hospital admissions was greater for few selected diagnoses but statistical significance was not attained. The health status U.S. Navy personnel had lower hospitalization rates for nearly all of the diagnostic categories examined. Reasons for these lower rates may be stringent screening of submariners, higher levels of education among submariners, difficulty of evacuation from a submarine, and the healthy worker effect.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 11, 1986
Accession Number
ADA185836

Entities

People

  • Lawrence A Palinkas
  • Ralph G. Burr

Organizations

  • Naval Health Research Center

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Diseases And Disorders
  • Education
  • Enlisted Personnel
  • Health
  • Health Services
  • Medical Personnel
  • Mental Disorders
  • Naval Personnel
  • Navy
  • New York
  • Nuclear Powered Submarines
  • Physical Activity
  • Ship Personnel
  • Ships
  • Social Psychology
  • Submarines

Readers

  • Maritime and Naval Warfare Studies
  • Trauma or Military Medicine
  • Women's Health and Cancer Risk Research: African American Women and Pregnancy Outcomes.