Publications

The following manuscripts have been published or are currently in press. Listings are in chronological order, unless otherwise noted.

Research Publication 2
Title Publication Date/Location
Health Impact of US Military Service in a Large Population-Based Military Cohort: Findings of the Millennium Cohort Study, 2001-2008 BMC Public Health 2011 Jan;11(1):69

Smith TC, Jacobson IG, Hooper TI, LeardMann CA, Boyko EJ, Smith B, Gackstetter GD, Wells TS, Amoroso PJ, Gray GC, Riddle JR, Ryan MAK, for the Millennium Cohort Study Team

This report summarizes findings from the Millennium Cohort Study through 2008 that have addressed health concerns related to military service. Conducting strategic studies aimed to identify, reduce, and prevent adverse health outcomes in military members have guided public health policy and will continue to affect policy for years to come.

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Health of Army Veterinarians and Veterinary Technicians in the Millennium Cohort Study Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 2021 Apr 1;258(7):767-775

Rivera AC, Geronimo-Hara TR, LeardMann CA, Penix EA, Phillips CJ, Faix DJ, Rull RP, Whitmer DL, Adler AB, for the Millennium Cohort Study Team

This analysis assessed the risk of mental health problems, suicidal ideation, psychotropic medication use, problem drinking, sleep quality, and lack of social support among 101 Army veterinarians and 334 veterinary technicians compared with other Army medical professionals (856 physicians and dentists and 6,453 medics, respectively) enrolled in the Millennium Cohort Study. Compared with physicians and dentists, veterinarians had elevated risks for mental health problems, trouble sleeping, and lack of social support after adjusting for important factors such as age, sex, race/ethnicity, financial problems, and deployment status. Veterinary technicians had no significantly elevated risks for any of the adverse outcomes of interest compared with medics.

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Health Status of Gulf War and Era Veterans Serving in the US Military in 2000 Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2018 May;60(5):e261-e267

Porter B, Long K, Rull RP, Dursa EK for the Millennium Cohort Study Team

This paper describes Gulf War Veterans and non-deployed Gulf era personnel enrolled in the Millennium Cohort Study. Comparing distributions of survey responses with those from a population-based sample collected by the VA, we found that Millennium Cohort participants reported slightly better health, particularly regarding mental health. The Millennium Cohort Study is an important resource for investigating the health effects of Gulf War deployment.

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Healthy Behaviors and Incidence of Overweight and Obesity in Military Veterans Annals of Epidemiology 2019;39:26–32.e1

Bookwalter DB, Porter B, Jacobson IG, Kong SY, Littman AJ, Rull RP, Boyko EJ

This study looked at how several healthy behaviors of veterans (including moderate-to-high physical activity, low sedentary time, eating little fast-food, appropriate nightly sleep duration, non-smoking, and moderate alcohol use) were associated with weight changes. Veterans who reported more healthy behaviors were less likely to become overweight and/or obese. For example, if all veterans of a healthy weight followed all six healthy behaviors, the number of veterans becoming overweight is estimated to go down by 23% and the number of veterans becoming obese is estimated to go down by 68%.

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Hearing Loss Associated with US Military Combat Deployment Noise and Health 2015 Jan-Feb; 74(17): 34-42

Wells TS, Seelig AD, Ryan MAK, Jones JM, Hooper TI, Jacobson IG, Boyko EJ

This study investigated hearing loss among Service members and Veterans. New-onset hearing loss was associated with combat deployment. Among those who had deployed, new-onset hearing loss was also associated with proximity to improvised explosive devices and experiencing a combat-related head injury. These findings have implications for health care and disability planning, as well as for prevention programs.

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Hypertension in Military Veterans Is Associated With Combat Exposure and Combat Injury Journal of Hypertension 2020 Jul;38(7):1293-1301

Howard JT, Stewart IJ, Kolaja C, Sosnov JA, Rull R, Torres I, Janak JC, Walker LE, Trone DW, Armenta RF

This study examined the association between combat injury and incident hypertension. We found that those who were injured during combat were more likely to develop hypertension. Further, inadequate sleep, having PTSD, and being overweight or obese were associated with developing hypertension. Results highlight the importance of hypertension prevention among those who are injured during their time in service.

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Identifying at-risk marines: A person-centered approach to adverse childhood experiences, mental health, and social support Journal of Affective Disorders 2023 Mar 15; 325:721-731 | doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.01.020

Reed-Fitzke K, LeardMann CA, Wojciak AS, Ferraro AJ, Hamilton A, Duncan JM, Rull RP

In a sample of male Marines (n=3,881), five subgroups based on adverse childhood experiences were identified. One in five Marines reported moderate to elevated levels of childhood adversity. A history of varying types of childhood adversity characterized by parental absence was associated with greater PTSD and depression symptomology and lower levels of social support. When attempting to identify Marines most at-risk for mental health concerns, the identification of specific patterns of childhood adversity, particularly regarding parental absence, may be more valuable.

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Impact of Combat Deployment and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder on Newly Reported Coronary Heart Disease Among US Active Duty and Reserve Forces Circulation 2014;129:1813-1820

Crum-Cianflone NF, Bagnell ME, Schaller E, Boyko EJ, Smith B, Maynard C, Ulmer CS, Vernalis M and Smith TC

This study evaluated the association of combat deployments and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on coronary heart disease among a young cohort of US service members. Experiencing combat deployment was associated with an increased odds of coronary heart disease by both self-report and medical record diagnosis after adjustment for demographic, military, and mental health characteristics. Screening positive for PTSD was not associated with CHD after adjustment. This study demonstrates that intense and acute stressful life experiences may increase the risk for coronary heart disease over a relatively short period among young adults.

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Impact of Terrorism on Caffeine and Tobacco Use Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2004 Dec;46(12):1194-5

Smith TC, Smith B, Corbeil TE, Ryan MAK, Riddle JR, for the Millennium Cohort Study Team

[letter in response to "Self-reported mental health among US military personnel, prior and subsequent to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001"]

Authors of a previously highlighted article respond to important suggestions on future analyses.

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Individual and Military Factors That Modify the Association Between Recent Sexual Trauma and Health Outcomes Among U.S. Service Members and Veterans Journal of Interpersonal Violence 2023 Sep; 38(17-18):10150-10181 | doi: 10.1177/08862605231173909

Seelig AD, Rivera AC, LeardMann CA, Daniel SM, Jacobson IG, Stander VA, Moore BL, Millard DC, Boyko EJ; Millennium Cohort Team

Experiencing recent sexual trauma was associated with PTSD, depression, and multiple somatic symptoms (e.g. physical complaints, bodily distress). These associations remained relatively stable across demographic and military factors but varied in the presence of protective (e.g., social support) and risk factors (e.g., childhood trauma). These findings underscore the complex interplay of trauma and resilience in understanding adverse health outcomes.

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