Descriptive analysis of diseases, non-battle injuries and climate among deployed Swedish military personnel.

Abstract

Introduction: Historically, diseases and non-battle injuries (DNBI) typically stand for 70%‒95% of all medical events during military missions. There is, however, no comprehensive compilation of medical statistics for Swedish soldiers during deployment.

Method: During United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali, climate data and medical outpatient health surveillance data were compiled for Swedish soldiers deployed to Timbuctoo, between 2015 and 2019. Correlations between climate data and medical outpatient health surveillance data were analysed.

Results: Battle injuries accounted for 0.4% of the visits to healthcare, while diseases accounted for 53.6%, and non-battle injuries for 46%, the majority being musculoskeletal injuries. The combination of high temperature, humidity, sun radiation and good visibility, during summer rotation weeks, caused more events of injuries and heat stress than any other period.

Conclusion: Musculoskeletal injuries were the major cause for visits to the Swedish camp hospital. Injuries and heat stress increased during periods of high temperature, humidity, sun radiation and good visibility. Lack of medical data, i.e. unknown number of unique patients seeking healthcare, cause codes not always connected to a primary diagnosis, and revisits not being connected to a diagnose, complicated interpretation of health risk factors.