Post-COVID-19 Condition in Military Personnel

Stuart Hitchcock; Samantha A Cintron; Lalon Kasuske; Francisco J Diaz; Janet Pierce

doi:10.1093/milmed/usad453

Post-COVID-19 Condition in Military Personnel

Mil Med. 2023 Dec 5:usad453. doi: 10.1093/milmed/usad453. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Stuart Hitchcock¹, Samantha A Cintron², Lalon Kasuske³, Francisco J Diaz⁴, Janet Pierce²

Affiliations

¹ Hospital Education and Training, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD 20889, USA.
² University of Kansas Medical Center, School of Nursing, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA.
³ Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.
⁴ Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA.

PMID: 38197253
DOI: 10.1093/milmed/usad453

Abstract

Introduction: During the COVID-19 pandemic, a significant number of individuals experienced persistent symptoms, collectively termed post-COVID-19 condition (PCC) by the World Health Organization. While civilian prevalence has been extensively studied, little is known about PCC in military personnel. This article highlights the need for increased awareness, documentation, and research on PCC within the military context, utilizing the Defense Health Agency database.

Materials and methods: A keyword search of the PubMed, CINAHL, and Web of Science databases was performed utilizing the keywords: military, post-COVID conditions, long COVID-19, and post-COVID19 syndrome. A five-stage integrative review framework was used to analyze 40 reports and research articles published from 2019 to 2023 to assess the current state of PCC research, including epidemiology, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 variants, pathophysiology, and prevalence in military personnel.

Results: Our review revealed a notable gap in research on PCC within the military population, with only a few mentions in the literature. A key finding was the association between immunization status, symptom severity, and ethnicity in PCC development.

Conclusion: To comprehensively address PCC in military personnel, it is imperative to foster both awareness and documentation. Creating a centralized Defense Health Agency-DoD repository for active duty service members with PCC diagnoses offers a valuable opportunity to conduct trend analysis, identify missed cases, and better understand the individual and military readiness implications of this condition. Additionally, to address the educational needs of clinicians, it is essential to develop continuing medical education and continuing nursing education programs focusing on PCC signs, symptoms, and their impact on readiness. Furthermore, randomized controlled trials and longitudinal experimental clinical trials are essential for monitoring service members over time, providing valuable insights into the course of PCC and potential interventions. These research endeavors collectively contribute to improving the health, readiness, and care of military personnel affected by PCC.

Abstract

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