Association of Sickle Cell Trait on Career and Operational Outcomes in the United States Air Force.

Military Medicine
Ernest P EbertBryant J Webber

Abstract

Sickle cell trait (SCT) is a heterozygotic state defined by having one normal hemoglobin gene and one sickle hemoglobin gene. Individuals with SCT are at increased risk for negative health outcomes during intense physical exertion, especially in hot climates and high-elevation locations, or when dehydrated. The U.S. Air Force mitigates this risk through universal screening after accession followed by education of SCT-positive airmen. Airmen who are SCT positive but remain asymptomatic are not restricted in occupation choice or deployment/duty locations based on their SCT status. Previous studies have analyzed the relationship between SCT and health and fitness outcomes. The objective of this study was to analyze the relationship between SCT and career and operational outcomes in a large cohort of airmen and secondarily to analyze the relationship between hemoglobin S (HgbS) percentage and these outcomes. This is a retrospective cohort study of all recruits who entered U.S. Air Force (USAF) Basic Military Training (BMT) between January 2009 and December 2013. The SCT status was assessed through a sickle solubility test. Hemoglobin electrophoresis permitted subgroup analysis of SCT-positive individuals by HgbS percentage. The fol...Continue Reading

References

Sep 24, 1987·The New England Journal of Medicine·J A KarkC J Ruehle
Feb 14, 2006·Lancet·Bruce G Link, Jo C Phelan
Oct 4, 2011·British Journal of Sports Medicine·Mike LoosemoreHugh Montgomery
Nov 6, 2014·Military Medicine·Bryant J Webber, Catherine T Witkop
Aug 16, 2016·The New England Journal of Medicine·D Alan NelsonLianne M Kurina
Mar 16, 2017·Military Medicine·David W NiebuhrDarrell E Singer
Jul 27, 2018·Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise·Bryant J WebberFrancis G O'Connor
Apr 10, 2020·Sports Health·Benjamin K BuchananKimberly G Harmon
Jan 5, 2021·Current Sports Medicine Reports·Francis G O'ConnorPatricia A Deuster

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