The Millennium Cohort Study
Abstract
Concern has been raised in the decade following the Persian Gulf War of 1990-91 that military service, and operational deployments in particular, may lead to long-term health problems. Chronic, multi-symptom illnesses have been especially challenging to assess in post-deployment troops. Retrospective epidemiologic analyses have been both difficult and costly for the U.S. Department of Defense. U.S. policy makers, academicians, and veterans groups called for a prospective cohort study to better assess the relationship between chronic health problems and military service. Beginning in 2001, the Millennium Cohort began enrollment of a stratified random sample of more than 140,000 service members, with the intention of following their health for up to 20 years. Cohort members will provide self-reported data on medical symptoms, functional status, and health-related behavior every 3 years. New and existing sources of objective data on health and health-related exposures, both during and after service, will be leveraged and linked to the cohort at regular intervals over the next 20 years. Nearly 80,000 service members enrolled in the Millennium Cohort in the first phase of the study. Participants are demographically well representative of the target population. Enrollment surveys demonstrate greater than 95% completion rates. Initial data capture from all sources, including internet-based surveys, is rapidly progressing. The Millennium Cohort Study has been successfully launched. This 20-year project is expected to better define the long-term health of U.S. military service members. The study's ability to prospectively evaluate both objective and subjective health status, in relation to deployments and other occupational exposures, will make the results of high interest to both military and civilian public health professionals.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADA433642
Entities
People
- Margaret Ryan
Organizations
- Naval Health Research Center