Survey on fatigue and systemic exertion intolerance disease among personnel from special operations force

Abstract

Objective To investigate the fatigue status and occurrence of systemic exertion intolerance disease (SEID) in soldiers from a unit of special operations force. Methods A total of 260 officers and soldiers from a SPF unit were selected in June 2018, and surveyed for fatigue level with multidimensional fatigue inventory 20 (MFI-20). According to the SEID diagnostic criteria recommended by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) in 2015, the occurrence and influencing factors of SEID were assessed using a questionnaire. Results The total score of MFI of the participants was 54.49±11.13, and the scores of general fatigue, physical fatigue, reduced activity, reduced motivation and mental fatigue were 13.63±3.48, 11.75±3.48, 9.72±2.33, 9.00±2.52 and 10.39±3.74, respectively. About 34.27% of the participants suffered from deep fatigue for longer than half a year. The incidences of SEID-related symptoms were 76.00% for unrefreshing sleep, 71.54% for substantial reduction or impairment in the ability, 46.18% for cognitive impairment, 26.52% for orthostatic intolerance and 22.09% for post-exertional malaise in order. According to the diagnostic criteria recommended by IOM, the incidence of SEID was 12.61%. The daily training time was closely correlated to fatigue level (r=0.223, P < 0.01) and SEID incidence (P=0.039). There were no differences in fatigue score and SEID incidence among the participants of different durations of military service, posts and other factors. Conclusion The fatigue score and incidence of SEID are quite high in the participants. The daily training time is closely correlated to fatigue level and SEID incidence.

Keywords

• special operation forces
• military personnel at professional posts
• fatigue
• systemic exertion intolerance disease