Rhabdomyolysis and related organ damage in new recruits during military training under high temperature and humidity environment

Abstract

Objective To explore the possibility of rhabdomyolysis and related organ damage in new recruits training in high temperature and high humidity environment by comparing the effects of different training environments on the laboratory indicators and electrocardiogram. Methods A total of 250 new recruits from a unit in Beijing and another 250 ones from a unit in Hainan were recruited and assigned into conventional environment group and high temperature and high humidity environment group, respectively. All of them were male, with an average age of 21.36±2.59 years. Before and in 4 weeks after training in the same subjects, their general information, blood and urine indicators, and electrocardiogram were collected. All data were statistically analyzed. Results The incidences of inflammatory reaction, myocardial injury, muscle injury, liver injury, and kidney injury were 45.76%, 3.39%, 12.71%, 25.42%, and 12.71%, respectively, in the high temperature and high humidity environment group, which were all significantly higher than those in the conventional environment group (P < 0.05). The former group had an incidence rate of 6.78%, 5.93%, 8.47%, 6.78%, and 2.54%, respectively, in sinus bradycardia, atrial premature beats, unspecific ST-T changes, left ventricular hypertension and short PR interval, and all of the rates were higher than those of the conventional environment group (P < 0.05). Conclusion The incidences of inflammatory reaction, myocardial injury, muscle injury, liver injury, kidney injury, and ECG abnormalities are more common in new recruits after military training in high temperature and high humidity environment.

Keywords

• military training
• high temperature
• high humidity
• rhabdomyolysis
• organ damage
• abnormal electrocardiogram