Injury Incidence and Injury Risk Factors Among Soldiers in the United States Army Ordnance School
Abstract
This study examined risk factors for time-loss injuries during U.S. Army Ordnance School Advanced Individual Training (AIT). Participants were soldiers (n= 3757 men, n=498 women) attending Ordnance AIT from January 2000 to June 2003. Injuries were obtained from an injury surveillance system in the medical clinic serving the AIT soldiers. Potential injury risk factors included entry-level fitness, demographics, and lifestyle variables. Fitness variables included maximal effort performance on push-ups, sit-ups and a 2-mile run. A health questionnaire provided data on age, race, rank, current self reported injury, current self reported illness, and tobacco use. Fitness variables were converted to four quartiles (Q) based on the distribution of scores (Q1=high performance to Q4=low performance). AIT entry and completion dates were obtained from an Army personnel system. Backward stepping Cox regression examined associations between time-loss injury and potential injury risk factors. Multivariate hazard ratios (MHR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were calculated. Cumulative time-loss injury incidence was 31% for men and 54% for women. For men, higher risk of injury resulting in time-loss was independently associated with race (MHR (Native American/Caucasian) = 1.4, 95%CI = 1.1-1.7), a current self reported injury (MHR (yes/no) = 2.2, 95%CI = 1.8-2.7), smoking before entering the Army (MHR (≤10 cigarettes/nonsmokers) = 1.3, 95%CI = 1.0-1.5, MHR (10-20 cigarettes/nonsmokers)= 1.5, 95%CI=1.2-1.7, MHR (>20 cigarettes/nonsmokers) = 1.9, 95%CI = 1.6-2.2), lower sit-up performance (MHR (Q4/Q1) = 1.2, 95%CI = 1.0-1.5), and slower 2-mile run times (MHR (Q4/Q1)= 1.4, 95%CI = 1.2-1.7). For women, higher risk of injury was independently associated with race (MHR (Black/Caucasian) = 0.7, 95%CI = 0.5-0.9), a current self reported injury (MHR (yes/no) = 1.6, 95%CI = 1.1-2.3), and slower 2-mile run times (MHR (Q4/Q1) = 2.2, 95%CI = 1.5-3.1).
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA557033
Entities
People
- Joseph J Knapik
- Michelle Canham-chervak Bruce H.
- Stephanie Morrison
- Tyson Grier
Organizations
- United States Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine