Lifetime Prevalence of Respiratory Diseases and Exposures Among Veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom Veterans: Results From the National Health Study for a New Generation of U.S. Veterans.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of respiratory exposures and the association between respiratory exposures and respiratory disease among veterans deployed to Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) compared with nondeployed veterans of this era.

METHODS: Data come from a national health survey of 20,563 deployed and nondeployed OEF/OIF era veterans. Prevalence estimates and adjusted odds ratios were calculated. Results were weighted to represent the population.

RESULTS: Prevalence of at least one respiratory exposure was high among both deployed and nondeployed groups (95% and 70%, respectively). In both groups, those with any respiratory exposure were at an increased risk for reporting a respiratory disease.

CONCLUSION: Respiratory exposures are highly prevalent and are associated with increased odds of respiratory diseases among the OEF/OIF era population.