Newly Reported Lupus and Rheumatoid Arthritis in Relation to Deployment Within Proximity to a Documented Open-Air Burn Pit in Iraq
Abstract
Background Recently, there has been concern that service members deploying in support of the current operations in Iraq and Afghanistan may have higher odds of developing chronic diseases, such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, as a result of environmental and occupational exposures that have been associated with these diseases in the general US population. One such exposure garnering much attention from media and veterans groups suggest smoke from open-air burning of trash and other waste in theater is contributing to widespread illness. Methods Of the 63,590 participants who completed both the 2004?2006 and 2007?2008 questionnaires, exclusions included those who affirmatively reported disease to all provider-diagnosed medical conditions, reported ever having lupus or rheumatoid arthritis prior to or on the 2004?2006 survey assessment, did not complete the outcome responses, were in the Navy or Marine Corps, never deployed between 2003 and 2007?2008 survey assessments, experienced a first deployment or exposure to a documented burn pit after newly reporting either outcome, or were missing any covariates of interest. Results 3201 and 3145 participants from the respective lupus and rheumatoid arthritis study populations identified with at least one deployment to an area within a 3-mile radius of a documented open-air burn pit. After adjustment, proximity to a documented 3-mile burn pit was not significantly associated with rheumatoid arthritis or lupus in general. Conclusions Results indicate deployers exposed to documented burn pits in the combined three-camp analysis were not at an elevated risk of lupus or rheumatoid arthritis.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2012
- Accession Number
- ADA563160
Entities
People
- Besa Smith
- Christopher J. Phillips
- Edward J. Boyko
- Gary Dean Gackstetter
- Kelly A. Jones
- Margaret A.K. Ryan
- Nisara S. Granado
- Tyler Clain Smith
Organizations
- Naval Health Research Center