2791. Burden of Respiratory Infections in Trainees Higher Than Healthcare Records Indicate: Results from an Anonymous Survey

Abstract

BackgroundInfluenza-like illnesses (ILIs) are common in military populations, particularly among trainees, and can impair mission-readiness. To develop effective preventive measures against ILIs, it is vital to understand the ILI burden in the military population and identify potential risk factors for infection.MethodsAnonymous ILI surveys were administered from January 2017 to March 2019 to military medical trainees living in a congregated setting on Fort Sam Houston (JBSA-FSH), TX. The surveys included questions about sociodemographic characteristics, weight, height, smoking status, activity level, as well as some basic questions about ILI and potential risk factors. Factors associated with ILI were identified using chi-square, t-tests, and multivariate models.Results2,381 surveys were returned that included age, sex, and ILI information. Respondents were 16–54 years old, 1,301 (55%) were male, 782 (33%) were Air Force, 817 (34%) were Army, and 763 (32%) were Navy/Marines. 39% of those surveyed (929) reported having experienced an ILI during their training with 40% (370) seeking healthcare for those symptoms. The primary reasons for seeking healthcare included the severity of the illness (59%), concern about spreading the illness (50%), and the accessibility of healthcare (41%). 53% of the respondents reported that ILI had an impact on their performance, among whom 77% stated reduced study time, 66% missing physical training, and 53% missed class. The final multivariate model indicates that men and participants 30+ years old were less likely to report ILI (OR 0.69 (0.58, 0.82); OR 0.65, (0.45, 0.94)) (Figure 1). In addition, participants who reported washing their hands after they coughed or sneezed were less likely to report having had an ILI (OR 0.73 (0.61, 0.89)).ConclusionAlthough 39% of respondents reported having an ILI during their training, only 40% sought healthcare, indicating that ILIs are more common during training than healthcare records indicate. More information is needed regarding how training outcomes vary among those with ILI who seek care, those with ILI who do not seek care and those without ILI during training, to allow a better estimate of the impact of ILI and development of ILI mitigation strategies. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.