Pain after combat injury in male UK military personnel deployed to Afghanistan

• DOI: 10.1016/j.bja.2024.02.019
• Publication Date: 2024-03-23T09:12:03Z
• Authors: Jan Vollert; Alexander Kumar; Emma C. Coady; Paul Cullinan; Daniel Dyball; Nicola T. Fear; Zoe Gan; Eleanor F. Miller; Stefan Sprinckmoller; Suzie Schofield; Alexander Bennett; Anthony M.J. Bull; Christopher J. Boos; Andrew S.C. Rice; Harriet I. Kemp
• Keywords: Depression; Military medicine

BackgroundChronic pain after injury poses a serious health burden. As result of advances in medical technology, ever more military personnel survive severe combat injuries, but long-term outcomes are unknown. We aimed to assess rates representative sample UK with and without injuries.MethodsWe used data from the ADVANCE cohort study (ISRCTN57285353). Individuals deployed as armed forces Afghanistan were recruited include those physical frequency-matched uninjured comparison group. Participants completed self-reported questionnaires, including 'overall' intensity self-assessment post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression.ResultsA total 579 participants injury, 161 amputations, 565 included analysis (median 8 yr since injury/deployment). Frequency moderate or was 18% (n=202), higher injured group (n=140, 24%) compared (n=62, 11%, relative risk: 1.1, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.0–1.2, P<0.001), lower amputation subgroup (n=31, 19%) non-amputation (n=109, 26%, 0.9, CI: 0.9–1.0, P=0.034). Presence at least associated (RR: 3.7, 2.7–5.0), anxiety 3.2, 2.4–4.3), depression 3.4, 2.7–4.5) accounting for injury.ConclusionCombat not amputation, frequency this cohort, adverse mental outcomes.