Survey and analysis on health status in medical soldiers in Western Theater Command

Abstract

Objective To investigate and analyze the health status and its influencing factors in medical soldiers in Western Theater Command. Methods During 2020 and 2021, medical soldiers who stationed in Western Theater Command were recruited as study objects. Based on the International Classification of Disease (ICD-10), a questionnaire on health status was developed. Basic information, lifestyle and signs and symptoms were collected from these participants. Results A total of 716 volunteers were eligible for this study. The incidences of symptoms ranged from 10.8% to 42.6%, with an order from high to low was: nervous system, musculoskeletal system, respiratory system, blood system, urinary system, digestive system, endocrine system and circulatory system. The symptom incidence of respiratory system was significantly higher in the smokers than the non-smokers (31.6% vs 24.0%, P=0.025). The symptom incidences of respiratory system (34.4% vs 25.9%, P=0.028), endocrine system (34.4% vs 25.9%, P=0.028), and nervous system (34.4% vs 25.9%, P=0.028) were obviously higher in the altitude ≥3 000 m group than the < 3 000 m group. Among the volunteers located ≥3 000 m, the symptom incidences of circulatory system (28.6% vs 11.0%), endocrine system (42.9% vs 21.0%), nervous system (67.9% vs 42.0%) and urinary system (53.6% vs 24.0%) were notably higher in those with length of military service ≥6 years than those ≤2 years (P < 0.05). Conclusion The symptom incidences of nervous system and musculoskeletal system are quite high in the participants. Long-term service in high altitude conditions may be more harmful to health.

Keywords

• spectrum of disease
• plateau
• military training
• western theater command