Military Health System Beneficiaries Research Articles

Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Cardiac Findings in Young Persons Following SARS-CoV-2 Infection

We studied cardiac complications in young persons with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. In a prospective cohort of 127 Military Health System beneficiaries 0–22 years old, 3.1% had cardiac abnormalities, all resolved within 6 months. Our findings support guidelines against routine cardiac screening in mild COVID-19 cases without cardiac symptoms.

Outpatient Rehabilitation Utilization After Major Limb Loss in Adults Receiving Care in the Military Health System From 2001 to 2017

ObjectiveTo investigate exposures associated with outpatient rehabilitation encounters among Military Health System (MHS) beneficiaries with major limb loss. DesignRetrospective, cohort study. SettingAmerican military treatment facilities and civilian health care facilities that accept TRICARE benefits. ParticipantsAdult MHS beneficiaries with major limb amputation(s) acquired between January 2001 and September 2017 (N=5161). InterventionsNot applicable. Main Outcome MeasuresThis exploratory analysis investigated associations between outpatient rehabilitation care and demographic and amputation characteristics in MHS beneficiaries with major limb loss. ResultsMost beneficiaries were aged 55-64 (36%), male (73%) and retirees/dependents (60%) with enlisted sponsor rank (88%) and single limb loss (89%). The active/reserve beneficiaries were younger, majority male, and more likely to be diagnosed with incident behavioral health conditions. Unadjusted negative binomial regression models revealed increased rates of outpatient rehabilitation encounters in active-duty service members (ADSMs) than in retirees/dependents (rate ratio, 10.02; 95% confidence interval, 9.30-10.80). The rate ratios for sex, sponsor rank, limb(s) lost, incident behavioral health condition, incident traumatic brain injury, incident posttraumatic stress disorder, and outpatient care setting were attenuated after stratification by beneficiary category. Enlisted ADSMs had increased rates of outpatient rehabilitation encounter days compared with officers, whereas retirees/dependents with enlisted sponsors had decreased than those with officer sponsors. ADSMs who accessed outpatient care in direct and private care settings demonstrated high rates of outpatient rehabilitation encounters compared with those who only sought care from private care settings (rate ratio, 4.60; 95% confidence interval, 2.95-6.81). ConclusionsThis study suggests that MHS beneficiaries with major limb loss use outpatient rehabilitation services differently, based on active/reserve duty or retiree/dependent status. This study is the first of its kind to quantify outpatient rehabilitation utilization for military beneficiaries with all-cause major limb loss and may inform MHS policymakers on the rehabilitation needs for combat- and noncombat-related amputee populations.

Immediate Breast Reconstruction After Mastectomy for Cancer Among US Military Health System Beneficiaries.

In the Military Health System (MHS), women with breast cancer may undergo surgical treatment in military hospitals (direct care) or in the civilian setting via the insurance benefit (private sector care). We conducted this study to determine immediate breast reconstruction rates among women undergoing mastectomy for cancer in the MHS by setting of care. Using the linked Department of Defense's Central Cancer Registry and MHS Data Repository, the Department of Defense's medical claims database, we identified adult women who underwent mastectomy for breast cancer from 1998 to 2014. Patients were then subgrouped by setting of care (direct vs private sector care). The primary outcome was the rate and type of immediate breast reconstruction. Regression models were constructed to determine factors associated with receipt of immediate breast reconstruction. The final sample included 3251 women who underwent mastectomy for cancer in the direct (67.0%) or private sector care (32.6%) settings. The overall rate of immediate breast reconstruction was 29.9% with an upward trend noted throughout the study (P < 0.001). Overall, implant-based reconstruction (81.4%) was more common than tissue-based reconstruction (18.6%). Compared with direct care, the immediate breast reconstruction rate was significantly higher in the private sector care setting (49.3% vs 20.5%, P < 0.001) despite accounting for differences in clinical characteristics (adjusted odds ratio = 4.51, 95% confidence interval [3.72-5.46]). Immediate breast reconstruction in the direct care setting lags that in the civilian community during the study time period. Further research is needed to ascertain current immediate reconstruction rates and understand factors contributing to any differences in rates between care settings.

SARS-CoV-2 variant replacement constrains vaccine-specific viral diversification.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine breakthrough infections have been important for all circulating severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variant periods, but the contribution of vaccine-specific SARS-CoV-2 viral diversification to vaccine failure remains unclear. This study analyzed 595 SARS-CoV-2 sequences collected from the Military Health System beneficiaries between December 2020 and April 2022 to investigate the impact of vaccination on viral diversity. By comparing sequences based on the vaccination status of the participant, we found limited evidence indicating that vaccination was associated with increased viral diversity in the SARS-CoV-2 spike, and we show little to no evidence of a substantial sieve effect within major variants; rather, we show that rapid variant replacement constrained intragenotype COVID-19 vaccine strain immune escape. These data suggest that, during past and perhaps future periods of rapid SARS-CoV-2 variant replacement, vaccine-mediated effects were subsumed with other drivers of viral diversity due to the massive scale of infections and vaccinations that occurred in a short time frame. However, our results also highlight some limitations of using sieve analysis methods outside of placebo-controlled clinical trials.

The Relationship Between Pre-Pandemic Comorbidities With SARS-CoV-2 Infections and Hospitalizations in Black Versus White Military Service Members: A Retrospective Study.

Comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions have been reported to worsen the clinical progression of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and related hospitalizations. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected the historically marginalized groups, i.e., Black, Hispanic, and Asian individuals have substantially higher rates of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, COVID-19 hospitalization, and death compared to White individuals. Despite these findings in civilian populations, the impact of comorbidities and race in SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 hospitalizations in military populations is unknown. We evaluated the relationship of pre-selected pre-pandemic comorbidities and race with SARS-CoV-2 infections and COVID-19 hospitalizations in U.S. military service members (SMs). We conducted a systematic review of Military Health System beneficiaries' records by accessing the Defense Medical Epidemiological Database. Our inclusion criteria were being an active duty SM and having at least one pre-COVID-19 pandemic comorbidity. Retired as well as uninfected healthy active duty SMs and beneficiaries were excluded from the study. A total population of 1.334 million active duty SM records was drawn from Defense Medical Epidemiological Database. The data were stratified, by race (primary outcome), as well as gender, age, and military service branches (secondary outcomes). We found higher trends in SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 hospitalization rates in Black compared to White SMs. This seamless inequality was also seen in other viral infections affecting SMs including human immunodeficiency virus and viral hepatitis. We hypothesized this disparity to some extent be associated with the presence of pre-pandemic comorbidities that is affecting this military subpopulation. Supporting our hypothesis, we found trends toward the higher pre-pandemic prevalence of diabetes mellitus, asthma, hypertension, and ischemic heart disease, in Black compared to White military SMs, especially in Black older male adults. Our results highlight the role of pre-pandemic comorbidities and race likely enhancing the frequency of SARS-CoV-2 infections and COVID-19 hospitalizations in military SMs. These preliminary findings underscore the need for future retrospective studies using additional Military Health System data bases reporting data on this military subpopulation, especially in the setting of future pathogens outbreaks or pandemics affecting military populations.

Nurse Attrition: Content Analysis of Free-Text Responses From Two Military Nursing Practice Environment Surveys.

Staff nurse attrition negatively impacts readiness of the warfighter and the health and wellbeing of all beneficiaries of the Military Health System (MHS). To promote the retention of a robust nursing workforce, a complete understanding of nurses' perceptions regarding their intent to leave is necessary. The purpose of this study was to explore the free-text responses of 1,438 nurses working among military medical treatment facilities for factors influencing their intent to leave, as an indicator of potential turnover, or attrition. This study employed thematic analysis to investigate the qualitative responses from the 2016 and 2018 Military Nursing Practice Environment Surveys. The study was determined to be exempt from Institutional Review Board review through the Womack Army Medical Center's Human Research Protection Program. Findings indicate that leadership and management (n = 647), staffing (n = 353), career opportunities (n = 345), staff outcomes (n = 247), culture (n = 153), quality of care (n = 99), patient care barriers (n = 86), non-patient care activities (n = 79), lack of formal professional development (n = 75), and area or care environment (n = 67) were among the top factors influencing staff nurse intent to leave, respectively. Our findings support the evaluation of retention strategies using implementation science for nurses and nurse resource personnel (e.g., nursing assistants, technicians, medics, and corpsman) to ensure a robust nursing work force throughout the MHS. Staff nurses and resource personnel working among military treatment facilities and embedded in units supporting combat and humanitarian missions ensure access to care and health promotion of the warfighter and all MHS beneficiaries.

The risk and risk factors of chikungunya virus infection and rheumatological sequelae in a cohort of U.S. Military Health System beneficiaries: Implications for the vaccine era.

Understanding the risk of chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection and rheumatic sequelae across populations, including travelers and the military, is critical. We leveraged healthcare delivery data of over 9 million U.S. Military Health System (MHS) beneficiaries to identify cases, and sampled controls, to estimate the risk of post-CHIKV rheumatic sequelae. MHS beneficiary CHIKV infections diagnosed 2014-2018 were identified from the Disease Reporting System internet, TRICARE Encounter Data Non-Institutional, and Comprehensive Ambulatory/Professional Encounter Record systems. Non-CHIKV controls were matched (1:4) by age, gender, beneficiary status, and encounter date. The frequency of comorbidities and incident rheumatic diagnoses through December 2018 were derived from International Classification of Diseases codes and compared between cases and controls. Poisson regression models estimated the association of CHIKV infection with rheumatic sequelae. We further performed a nested case-control study to estimate risk factors for post-CHIKV sequelae in those with prior CHIKV. 195 CHIKV cases were diagnosed between July 2014 and December 2018. The median age was 42 years, and 43.6% were active duty. 63/195 (32.3%) of CHIKV cases had an incident rheumatic diagnosis, including arthralgia, polyarthritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, and/or rheumatoid arthritis, compared to 156/780 (20.0%) of controls (p < 0.001). CHIKV infection remained associated with rheumatic sequelae (aRR = 1.579, p = 0.008) after adjusting for prior rheumatic disease and demography. Those with rheumatic CHIKV sequelae had a median 7 healthcare encounters (IQR 3-15). Among CHIKV infections, we found no association between post-CHIKV rheumatic sequelae and demography, service characteristics, or comorbidities. CHIKV infection is uncommon but associated with rheumatic sequelae among MHS beneficiaries, with substantial healthcare requirements in a proportion of cases with such sequelae. No demographic, clinical, or occupational variables were associated with post-CHIKV rheumatic sequelae, suggesting that prediction of these complications is challenging in MHS beneficiaries. These findings are important context for future CHIKV vaccine decision making in this and other populations.

Survival Among Patients With Multiple Myeloma in the United States Military Health System Compared to the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program

BackgroundAccess to health care is an important factor affecting survival of patients with multiple myeloma (MM) in the U.S. general population. The U.S. Military Health System (MHS) provides universal health care to beneficiaries and has been associated with improved survival across multiple malignancies. In this study, we compared survival of MHS beneficiaries with MM with MM patients from the U.S. general population. Materials and methodsThe Department of Defense's Automated Central Tumor Registry (ACTUR) and the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) databases were used to extract data for MM patients from MHS and the U.S. general population, respectively. Patients had histologically confirmed MM between 1987 and 2013 and were followed through 2015 for overall survival. Two SEER patients were matched to each ACTUR patient by age group, sex, race, and diagnosis year group. Five and 10-year survival was compared between ACTUR and SEER patients to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) with adjustment for potential confounders. ResultsMedian survival of the ACTUR patients was 47.1 months (95% CI: 43.9-50.4) compared to 33.0 months (95% CI, 32.0-35.0) of the SEER patients. Five and 10-year death rates were significantly lower for ACTUR patients than the SEER patients with an adjusted HR of 0.74 (95% CI, 0.68-0.81) and 0.79 (95% CI, 0.74-0.85), respectively. The survival advantage of ACTUR patients was preserved when stratified by age, sex, race, and diagnosis year. ConclusionMHS beneficiaries with MM had improved overall survival compared to MM patients from the U.S. general population.

Precision symptom phenotyping identifies early clinical and proteomic predictors of distinct COVID-19 sequelae.

Post-COVID conditions (PCC) are difficult to characterize, diagnose, predict, and treat due to overlapping symptoms and poorly understood pathology. Identifying inflammatory profiles may improve clinical prognostication and trial endpoints. 1,988 SARS-CoV-2 positive U.S. Military Health System beneficiaries with quantitative post-COVID symptom scores were included in this analysis. Among participants who reported moderate-to-severe symptoms on surveys collected 6-months post-SARS-CoV-2 infection, principal component analysis (PCA) followed by K-means clustering identified distinct clusters of symptoms. Three symptom-based clusters were identified: a sensory cluster (loss of smell and/or taste), a fatigue/difficulty thinking cluster, and a difficulty breathing/exercise intolerance cluster. Individuals within the sensory cluster were all outpatients during their initial COVID-19 presentation. The difficulty breathing cluster had a higher likelihood of obesity and COVID-19 hospitalization compared to those with no/mild symptoms at 6-months post-infection. Multinomial regression linked early post-infection D-dimer and IL-1RA elevation to fatigue/difficulty thinking, and elevated ICAM-1 concentrations to sensory symptoms. We identified three distinct symptom-based PCC phenotypes with specific clinical risk factors and early post-infection inflammatory predictors. With further validation and characterization, this framework may allow more precise classification of PCC cases and potentially improve the diagnosis, prognostication, and treatment of PCC.

Bone Sarcoma Survival in the US Military Health System: Comparison With the SEER Program.

Access to care is associated with cancer survival. The US Military Health System (MHS) provides universal health care to all beneficiaries. However, it is unknown whether survival among patients with bone sarcoma in a health system providing universal care is better than that in the general population. The aim of the study was to compare survival of patients with bone sarcoma in the US MHS with that of the US general population. The MHS data were obtained from the Department of Defense Automated Central Tumor Registry (ACTUR). The US general population data were obtained from the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registry. Adult patients were defined as those aged 25 years or older with a histologically confirmed musculoskeletal bone sarcoma diagnosed from January 1, 1987, to December 31, 2013. Kaplan-Meier survival curves and multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used to compare the overall survival of the two populations. The final analysis included 2,273 bone sarcoma cases from ACTUR and 9,092 bone sarcoma cases from SEER. ACTUR patients had significant lower 5-year all-cause death (hazard ratio = 0.72; 95% CI, 0.66 to 0.78) after adjustment for the potential confounders. ACTUR patients with bone sarcoma also exhibited significantly lower risk of all-cause death during the entire follow-up period than the SEER patients (hazard ratio = 0.75; 95% CI, 0.6 to 0.81). MHS beneficiaries with bone sarcoma may have longer survival than SEER patients. Our findings support the role of universal access to high-quality care in improving bone sarcoma outcomes.

Prevalence of Urogenital Mycoplasma genitalium Infection at 2 US Army Medical Facilities.

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have a high incidence in the US Armed Forces and can adversely impact service members' ability to perform their duties. Better knowledge of Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) epidemiology in the military is needed to understand the potential impact of this emerging pathogen on force readiness. We conducted cross-sectional analyses of data from US Army service members and other Military Health System beneficiaries participating in a trial of an STI/HIV behavioral intervention at Fort Liberty, NC, and Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA. At enrollment, participants completed questionnaires and provided biological specimens for nucleic acid amplification testing for MG, Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG). We used principal component analysis and robust Poisson regression to examine associations between participant characteristics and prevalent urogenital MG. Among 432 participants enrolled between November 2020 and February 2023, 43 had MG (prevalence, 10.0%), of whom 13 had coinfection with another bacterial STI (all 13 were positive for CT, with 1 also positive for NG). The prevalence of MG was significantly higher among female (13.5%) versus male (7.6%; P = 0.048) participants and non-Hispanic Black (14.9%) versus non-Hispanic White participants (6.6%; P = 0.045). Single relationship status and increased number of recent sexual partners were correlated, and their component was associated with higher MG prevalence (adjusted prevalence ratio, 2.11; 95% confidence interval, 1.29-3.48). The high prevalence of urogenital MG among Military Health System beneficiaries highlights the importance of understanding the potential clinical sequelae of MG and conducting additional epidemiologic research in military settings.

437. Does “Long COVID” Resolve by One Year in U.S. Military Health System Beneficiaries?

Abstract Background The long-term duration of post COVID condition (PCC, “Long COVID”) remains unclear. In this study, we estimated the risk of healthcare encounters in Military Health System (MHS) beneficiaries for the 12 months post SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis, adjusting for prior healthcare use, and compared to those without known prior SARS-COV-2 diagnosis. Methods Follow up continues for the Epidemiology, Immunology and Clinical Characteristics of Emerging Infectious Diseases of Pandemic Potential (EPICC) COVID-19 cohort study MHS beneficiaries who were tested for SARS-COV-2 or vaccinated from March 2020 to April 2022. Participants with SARS-COV-2 diagnosis from 3/1/20 through 12/31/21 were matched 1:1 with participants in the same age group with no record of SARS-COV-2 diagnosis. We identified categories of ICD-10 diagnoses occurring from 3 months before through 12 months after first SARS-COV-2 diagnosis (or matched time point) from electronic medical records. Multivariable Poisson regression models were used to estimate the risk of ICD-10 diagnosis categories for those with past SARS-COV-2 diagnosis, compared to those with no SARS-COV-2 diagnosis, adjusting for age, sex, BMI, variant era, and prior healthcare use.Table 1.Characteristics of matched Epidemiology, Immunology and Clinical Characteristics of Emerging Infectious Diseases of Pandemic Potential (EPICC) participants included in analyses. Statistical comparisons are Pearson’s Chi squared tests, unless otherwise specified. Results Analyses included 1,819 matched pairs with a median age of 35 years. Participants were primarily male (63.0%) or white (57.3%) (Table 1) and severe acute COVID-19 was infrequent (9.6% hospitalized). Compared to those without a history of SARS-COV-2 diagnosis, medical encounters for all diagnosis groups (pulmonary, cardiovascular, diabetes, anxiety/depression, and neurology) were elevated in the first month after SARS-COV-2 diagnosis (Figures 1 and 2). Among the different diagnosis categories, only pulmonary diagnoses remained elevated at 9 months post-infection compared to those without a history of SARS-COV-2 diagnosis (risk ratio: 1.95 (95% CI 1.34, 2.83)). Percent of EPICC participants with medical encounters / diagnoses (by organ system or other domain) in health records. Participants without a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection were assigned the infection date of their matched case. Poisson regression analysis run using each category of healthcare encounters (pulmonary, cardiovascular, diabetes, neurology, and anxiety/depression) as the outcome. The models included time in 30-day periods around SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis date (or matched time point), SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis status, age, sex, BMI category, and variant/calendar period (calendar times with predominant Ancestral, Alpha, or Delta circulation), as well as a random effect for participant. Conclusion MHS beneficiaries with prior SARS-COV-2 diagnosis were at higher risk of pulmonary-associated healthcare encounters through 9 months post-infection compared to those without prior SARS-COV-2 diagnosis, even after adjusting for baseline characteristics and calendar time. Future work will assess the effect of vaccination and boosting on this relationship. Disclosures Michael Morris, MD, Janssen Pharmaceuticals: Paid speaker (unrelated to this project and COVID-19 in general) Ryan C. Maves, MD, Sound Pharmaceuticals: Grant/Research Support Mark Simons, PhD, AstraZeneca: TBD Timothy Burgess, MD, AstraZeneca: TBD Simon Pollett, MBBS, AstraZeneca: The IDCRP and the Henry M. Jackson Foundation (HJF) were funded to conduct an unrelated phase III COVID-19 monoclonal antibody immunoprophylaxis trial

660. Pediatric Rotavirus Hospitalization Rates in the Military Health System Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract Background Rotavirus, a vaccine preventable disease, causes significant morbidity and mortality in children &amp;lt; 5 years of age. Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic reduced the rates of pediatric vaccinations, and the Military Health System (MHS) was no different (Figure 1). This gap in immunizations left many children vulnerable to preventable illnesses, including rotavirus. We hypothesized that the reduction in rotavirus vaccine administration during the pandemic would lead to an increase in rotavirus related hospitalizations within the MHS. Methods A repeated monthly cross-sectional study was performed using inpatient data from the MHS to observe differences in rotavirus rates and risk factors before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data from March 2018 to February 2020 was considered pre-pandemic, while the following two years (until February 2022), were divided into COVID Year 1 and Year 2. Children included in the study were between 0-59 months of age and those with rotavirus were identified using ICD-10 codes. Poisson regression calculated rate ratios of rotavirus, adjusting for several demographic variables and time period at diagnosis. Monthly counts and rates of rotavirus were also documented. Results Across the cohort of 1.14 million MHS beneficiaries, there were 3,503 unique cases of rotavirus infections in hospitalized children &amp;lt; 5 years old (Table 1). During both Years 1 and 2 of COVID-19, there was a significant decrease in rotavirus related hospitalizations compared to the pre-pandemic period (Figure 2). Younger age was associated with increased risk. Patient sex, parent military rank, and region were not statistically significant (Table 2). Conclusion Despite the reduction in routine immunization administration to children in the MHS after the COVID-19 pandemic started, there was not an increase in rotavirus related hospitalizations. In the two years following the start of the pandemic, there was a statistically significant decrease in hospitalizations related to rotavirus in our cohort. Social distancing to include daycare closures, increased hygiene measures, and catch-up immunizations may explain this finding. Continued research into this topic will help determine if rotavirus related hospitalizations return to pre-pandemic levels. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

The burden of vestibular disorders among military health system (MHS) beneficiaries, fiscal years 2018-2019.

Vestibular disorders affect an estimated 33 million adults and 3.5 million children and adolescents in the United States. Previous research relying on self-reported symptoms versus actual diagnosis has limited the ability to provide prevalence estimates for specific vestibular disorders at the population level. This study seeks to describe the burden of vestibular disorders among children and working-age adult beneficiaries in the Military Health System (MHS). Using the MHS Data Repository (MDR), we conducted a cross-sectional study of all TRICARE Prime and Plus MHS beneficiaries aged 0 to 64 years from fiscal years (FY) 2018 to 2019. Study analyses included descriptive statistics of patient demographics and assessing the prevalence of vestibular disorders in pediatric and working-age adult beneficiaries. Of the 5,541,932 TRICARE Prime/Prime Plus MHS beneficiaries, 52,878 (0.95%) had a diagnosis of vestibular disorder during fiscal years 2018 to 2019, of which 1,359 were pediatric and adolescents (aged 0 to 17 years) and 51,519 were working-age adults (18 to 64 years). Vertigo was the most common diagnosis in both age-group populations (11.46 per 1,000 working-age adults; 0.52 per 1,000 children and adolescents), with benign vertigo being the most prevalent of the three diagnoses and occurring at a seven times higher rate in adults versus pediatric and adolescents. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of using medical claims data to estimate prevalence compared to self-reported survey data and supports prevalence estimates of vestibular disease in <1% of children overall, but indicate much higher prevalence for adolescents.

Mandated checkups, knowledge of own health status, and chronic care utilization: The effect of HIV medical evaluation mandates on healthcare quality and expenditure in a US-single payer system.

In an effort to improve military readiness, in 2014 the US Air Force reduced the frequency of mandated HIV medical evaluation visits from every 6months to every 12months. We employ this natural experiment using data for 2676 active-duty Military Health System beneficiaries living with HIV with a difference-in-differences empirical strategy using the Army, Navy, and Marines as a control group to estimate the causal effect of reducing the frequency of mandated evaluation visits on the quality and cost of medical care for active-duty military members living with HIV. We find that reducing the frequency of mandated HIV medical evaluation visits reduced the likelihood of regular HIV visits by 23 percentage points but did not affect the likelihood of receiving other preventive care, adhering to HIV therapy, or maintaining viral testing and suppression. The study finds evidence that the recommended level of regular HIV visits may be higher than necessary. The reduction in regular HIV visits was not associated with a similar reduction in the studied quality of care measures, therefore, the effect of alleviating the mandate was overall positive in terms of reducing healthcare utilization without adversely affecting preventive care, HIV therapy, or viral testing and suppression.

Health Care Utilization After Major Limb Loss in Adults (18-64) Receiving Care in the Military Health System From 2001 to 2017

ObjectiveTo characterize and quantify health care utilization of Military Health System beneficiaries with major limb loss. DesignRetrospective cohort study. SettingMilitary treatment facilities and civilian health care facilities that accept TRICARE insurance across the United States. ParticipantsA total 5950 adult Military Health System beneficiaries with major limb amputation(s) acquired between January 1st, 2001, and September 30th, 2017 (N=5950). InterventionsNot applicable. Main Outcome MeasuresThis study was an exploratory analysis designed to identify common care specialties, services, and devices utilized by Military Health System beneficiaries with major limb loss. ResultsMost beneficiaries were retirees/dependents (63.3%), men (73.1%), and had a single amputation (88.7%), with a mean age of 42 years. Differences between beneficiary categories were found. Active-duty service members used a larger proportion of inpatient, emergency, primary care, physical and occupational therapy, prosthetics and orthotics, physical medicine and rehabilitation, and psychiatry services than retirees/dependents. Most common procedures included “revision of amputation stump” (57.2%) for the active-duty population and “other amputation below knee” (24.3%) for the retirees/dependents. ConclusionsThese findings highlight the rehabilitation trajectories of beneficiaries receiving treatment for major limb loss in military and civilian care settings. The results could inform staffing decisions and training programs for military treatment facilities, American trauma centers, rehabilitation hospitals, and outpatient health care providers treating individuals with amputation.

Prevalence of Heart Failure Stages in a Universal Health Care System: The Military Health System Experience

BackgroundMorbidity and mortality related to heart failure are increasing and disparities are widening. These alarming trends, often confounded by access to care, are poorly understood. This study evaluates the prevalence of all stages of heart failure by race and socioeconomic status in an environment with no access barrier to care. MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional observational study of adult beneficiaries aged 18 to 64 years of the Military Health System (MHS), a model for universal health care for fiscal years 2018-2019. We calculated prevalence of preclinical (stages A/B) or clinical (stages C/D) heart failure stages as defined by professional guidelines. Results were analyzed by age, race, and socioeconomic status (using military rank as a proxy). ResultsAmong 5,440,761 MHS beneficiaries aged 18 to 64 years, prevalence of preclinical and clinical heart failure was 18.1% and 2.5%, respectively. Persons with preclinical heart failure were middle aged, with similar proportions of men and women, while those with heart failure were older, mainly men. After multivariable adjustment, male sex (1.35 odds ratio [OR] [preclinical]; 1.95 OR [clinical]), Black race (1.64 OR [preclinical]; 1.88 OR [clinical]) and lower socioeconomic status were significantly associated with large increases in the prevalence of all stages of heart failure. ConclusionAll stages of heart failure are highly prevalent among MHS beneficiaries of working age and, in an environment with no access barrier to care, there are striking disparities by race and socioeconomic status. The high prevalence of preclinical heart failure, particularly notable among Black beneficiaries, delineates a critical time window for prevention.

Assessing Clinical Utility ofPharmacogenetic Testing inthe Military Health System.

Response to medications can differ widely among individual patients. Adverse drug reactions can lead to serious morbidity and mortality. Pharmacogenetic (PGx) testing can predict responses to medications and increased risks of adverse events where the genetic basis is understood. Several published manuscripts suggest positive impacts of systematic preemptive PGx testing. However, few studies have been conducted on PGx implementation in the Military Health System (MHS). A cross-sectional study of adult beneficiaries in a primary care clinic at a large military treatment facility was conducted in 2022. Participants underwent PGx genotyping of CYP2C19 and CYP2D6 genes at the Defense Health Agency Genetics Reference Laboratory. Participant medication lists were compared to the current Clinical Pharmacogenetic Implementation Consortium (CPIC) PGx gene-drug guidelines to assess potential actionability of these results. Genotyping of CYP2C19 and CYP2D6 in 165 MHS beneficiaries (mean age: 65 years) revealed that 81.2% of participants had at least one abnormal PGx finding. Among those with an abnormal PGx result, 65% were taking a medication listed on the CPIC website with an association with the particular gene in which the finding was identified. In addition, 78% of all of the participants in the study were taking at least one medication that is metabolized by CYP2C19 or CYP2D6 with associated CPIC guidelines. Pharmacogenetic testing for CYP2C19 and CYP2D6 identified a substantial proportion of MHS patients at a single center who could benefit from evaluation of current medication regimens based on the CPIC guidelines. Individualized medical management may be warranted to a greater degree than previously recognized based on the findings given possible differences in medication metabolism. Many MHS beneficiaries already take medications metabolized by CYP2C19 and CYP2D6, and a substantial proportion may be at risk for preventable adverse events for medications metabolized by these enzymes. While preliminary, a large number of actionable polymorphisms among a relatively small set of individuals taking at-risk medications suggest that implementing PGx testing in clinical practice may be beneficial in the MHS with appropriate clinical infrastructure.

Contributions of the Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs to Advances in Cancer Therapeutics.

Nearly a billion dollars is spent annually in the Military Health System (MHS) on cancer diagnosis and treatment, with a large portion of that directed toward breast, prostate, and ovarian cancers. Multiple studies have demonstrated the impact of specific cancers on MHS beneficiaries and Veterans, highlighting the fact that active duty and retired military members have a higher incidence than the general public for many chronic diseases and certain forms of cancer. The Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs have supported research that has contributed to the development, clinical testing, and commercialization of 11 cancer drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat breast, prostate, or ovarian cancers. In addition to hallmark funding mechanisms that prioritize innovative, groundbreaking ideas, the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program's cancer programs continue to identify new approaches to fill critical gaps across the full research spectrum, including bridging the translational research gap toward developing new treatments for cancer patients in the MHS and in the general American public.

Postoperative Venous Thromboembolism Following Hysterectomy in the Department of Defense.

Hysterectomy is the most common major gynecologic procedure performed in the USA. Surgical complications, such as venous thromboembolism (VTE), are known risks that can be mitigated by preoperative risk stratification and perioperative prophylaxis. Based on recent data, the current post-hysterectomy VTE rate is found to be 0.5%. Postoperative VTE significantly impacts health care costs and patients' quality of life. Additionally, for active duty personnel, it can negatively impact military readiness. We hypothesize that the incidence of post-hysterectomy VTE rates will be lower within the military beneficiary population because of the benefits of universal health care coverage. The Military Health System (MHS) Data Repository and Management Analysis and Reporting Tool was used to conduct a retrospective cohort study of postoperative VTE rates within 60 days of surgery among women who underwent a hysterectomy at a military treatment facility between October 1, 2013, and July 7, 2020. Patient demographics, Caprini risk assessment, preoperative VTE prophylaxis, and surgical details were obtained by chart review. Statistical analysis was performed using the chi-squared test and Student t-test. Among the 23,391 women who underwent a hysterectomy at a military treatment facility from October 2013 to July 2020, 79 (0.34%) women were diagnosed with VTE within 60 days of their surgery. This post-hysterectomy VTE incidence rate (0.34%) is significantly lower than the current national rate (0.5%, P < .0015). There were no significant differences in postoperative VTE rates with regard to race/ethnicity, active duty status, branch of service, or military rank. Most women with post-hysterectomy VTE had a moderate-to-high (4.29 ± 1.5) preoperative Caprini risk score; however, only 25% received preoperative VTE chemoprophylaxis. MHS beneficiaries (active duty personnel, dependents, and retirees) have full medical coverage with little to no personal financial burden for their health care. We hypothesized a lower VTE rate in the Department of Defense because of universal access to care and a presumed younger and healthier population. The postoperative VTE incidence was significantly lower in the military beneficiary population (0.34%) compared to the reported national incidence (0.5%). Additionally, despite all VTE cases having moderate-to-high preoperative Caprini risk scores, the majority (75%) received only sequential compression devices for preoperative VTE prophylaxis. Although post-hysterectomy VTE rates are low within the Department of Defense, additional prospective studies are needed to determine if stricter adherence to preoperative chemoprophylaxis can further reduce post-hysterectomy VTE rates within the MHS.