Association of Tobacco Use with Injuries among Infantry Soldiers Carrying Loads on a 100-Mile Road March.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To examine the effect of tobacco use on injuries sustained during a physically demanding 100-mile road march. METhODS: A study was conducted with 212 infantry soldiers who marched with an Army backpack (mean weight 28.3+4 kg) 20 miles per day for five days. Prior to the march, all soldiers completed a demographic (i.e. age, race) and tobacco use questionnaire. All march-related injuries were recorded by physician assistants when a soldier reported to a medical station along the road march course. In addition to the overall analysis of injury, foot blisters were also analyzed separately. A logistic regression model was used to examine the interrelationships between several factors: smoking habits (current smokers, quitters), chewing tobacco use, age, race, and fitness (maximum number of situps in two minutes, maximum numbers of pushups in two minutes, and a two-mile timed run). RESULTS: Mean age was 21.4+3.9 years. Thirty-three percent (70/212) of the soldiers suffered one or more injuries (63.0% of these were blisters). Odds ratios and confidence intervals for any injury and blisters were calculated. The odds of injury and blisters were calculated. The odds of incurring injuries was significantly higher in current smokers (controlling for age and race).
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 03, 1995
- Accession Number
- ADA307059
Entities
People
- C. E. Witt
- J. J. Knapik
- J. R. Dettori
- Katy L. Reynolds
- Paul J. Amoroso
Organizations
- United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine