A new analysis of Veterans Affairs (VA) health data reveals that U.S. military personnel deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan during Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) faced significantly higher risks of developing respiratory diseases, including asthma and chronic sinus conditions.
The study, “Associations of Deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan With New-Onset Asthma and Upper Respiratory Diseases,” examined records from more than 104,000 deployed veterans and found that deployment was strongly associated with new-onset asthma and upper respiratory disorders in the decade following service. The study was published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.
“We know that veterans of OEF, which took place in Afghanistan, and OIF were exposed to airborne hazards, including particulate matter from open air waste burning, also known as burn pits as well as other important exposures,” the study’s lead author Patrick Gleeson, MD, MSCE, told Healio. Dr. Gleeson is a professor of allergy and immunology at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
Researchers compared deployed veterans to nondeployed counterparts matched by age, sex, race and ethnicity. Data showed deployed veterans have:
- 55% higher risk of asthma
- 41% higher risk of chronic rhinitis
- 27% higher risk of chronic rhinosinusitis
- 48% higher risk of nasal polyposis
Researchers suggested the results underscore the long-term health impact of airborne hazards encountered during deployment to certain regions and called for enhanced surveillance and specialized care for respiratory conditions among OIF and OEF veterans.
Their findings add to growing evidence linking exposure to dust, burn pits and other environmental hazards in combat zones to chronic health issues, reinforcing the importance of ongoing monitoring and policy support for affected service members.
“Prior work has shown associations of OEF and OIF deployment with higher risks of respiratory symptoms and of diagnoses of asthma, rhinitis, sinusitis and nasal polyposis,” said Dr. Gleeson. “However, few studies have been carried out using electronic health record data.”
