The Millennium Cohort Study: Answering Long-Term Health Concerns of US Military Service Members by Integrating Longitudinal Survey Data with Military Health System Records. Part 2. Pre-Deployment

Abstract

Military service involves unique occupational experiences and intense stressors that may have profound impact on long-term health. Most studies of military-related exposures are limited by retrospective and cross-sectional design, convenience sampling, and/or short follow-up. The Millennium Cohort Study is the largest population-based prospective health study in US military history, designed to evaluate the long-term health impact of military service. The Cohort currently consists of four panels enrolled separately in 2001, 2004, 2007, and 2011, totaling approximately 200,000 participants from all service branches, and includes both active-duty and Reserve and National Guard personnel. Participants are surveyed at three-year intervals for up to 21 years while in service and post service. At least one follow-up has been completed by over 70% of the Cohort, and >50% of the current participants have deployed in support of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Millennium Cohort Study is setting a new standard for prospective evaluation of the long-term health consequences of military occupational exposures, among both active military personnel and the growing number of veterans who have separated or retired from military service and entered the civilian population. The rigorous design and strength of these data provide invaluable information on the associations between military service experiences, such as deployment, and a variety of mental and physical health outcomes. Results of this study have both military and national public health significance and will be useful in designing policy and preventive strategies in the years to come.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2013
Accession Number
ADA620647

Entities

People

  • Nancy F Crum-Cianflone

Organizations

  • Naval Health Research Center

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Active Duty
  • Anxiety Disorders
  • Depression
  • Health Care
  • Health Services
  • Medical Personnel
  • Military History
  • Military Medicine
  • Military Personnel
  • Public Health
  • Therapy
  • Traumatic Stress Disorder

Fields of Study

  • Medicine

Readers

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