BEHAVIORAL AND DEMOGRAPHIC RISK FACTORS FOR SPORT-RELATED INJURIES AMONG U.S. ARMY SOLDIERS, 1987???1998

Abstract

U.S. Army soldiers are a young, healthy, predominantly male population, and physical fitness is an important job requirement. Sports injuries are a significant source of injury morbidity, resulting in hospitalizations and lost duty days. A retrospective cohort study followed 389,271 soldiers who completed the Health Risk Appraisal (HRA) and who had not previously suffered a sport-related injury hospitalization. Multivariate logistic regression models identified independent risk factors for sport-related injury hospitalizations. Five of the most common diagnoses involved injuries to the knee. Eight of the 10 most common diagnoses were associated with basketball, and basketball and football together accounted for more than 50% of hospitalizations and 56% of lost duty days. Soldiers hospitalized for sport-related injuries were significantly more likely to be white (OR = 1.82, 95% CI: 1.65,2.01), male (OR = 3.54, 95% CI: 2.88,4.35), consume more than 20 drinks per week (OR = 1.31, 95% CI: 1.01,1.71), and more satisfied with their life (OR = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.31,2.22). Soldiers who smoked 11–20 cigarettes per day (OR = 0.79, 95% CI: 0.68,0.92) and those who smoked more than 20 cigarettes per day (OR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.47,0.84) were less likely to have a sport-related hospitalization even while controlling for aerobic activity, strength training, and other behavioral and demographic factors. Physical conditioning, including participation in athletics, plays an important role in maintaining military readiness. Injury morbidity may be reduced through targeted interventions, such as sport-specific conditioning, improvement of playing field surfaces, and the use of orthopedic equipment such as knee braces. The association between smoking and injury is puzzling and should receive more in-depth investigation. Supported by NIAAA #1 R29 AA11407-01A1 and #R29AA07700.