More than 2.6 million military personnel have been deployed to recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan and were likely exposed to a variety of airborne hazards during deployment. Despite several epidemiologic reports of increased respiratory symptoms, whether or not these respiratory illnesses lead to reductions in lung function and/or specific pulmonary disease is unclear. We reviewed data published from 2001 to 2014 pertaining to respiratory health in military personnel deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan and found 19 unique studies. Study designs were primarily retrospective and observational in nature with patient symptom reporting and medical encounter data as primary outcome measures. Two case series reported on rare respiratory diseases, and one performed a standardized evaluation of new-onset respiratory symptoms. Respiratory outcomes in relation to proximity to a specific air pollution source (i.e., smoke from burning trash and sulfur mine fire) were described in 2 separate studies. Only 2 longitudinal investigations were identified comparing pre- and postdeployment measurement of exercise capacity. In summary, published data based on case reports and retrospective cohort studies suggest a higher prevalence of respiratory symptoms and respiratory illness consistent with airway obstruction. However, the association between chronic lung disease and airborne hazards exposure requires further longitudinal research studies with objective pulmonary assessments.

中文翻译：

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伊拉克和阿富汗退伍军人的空气传播危害暴露和呼吸健康。

已经有超过260万军事人员被部署到伊拉克和阿富汗最近的冲突中，并且在部署过程中可能遭受各种空中危险。尽管有几项流行病学报告表明呼吸道症状增加，但这些呼吸道疾病是否导致肺功能下降和/或特定的肺部疾病尚不清楚。我们回顾了2001年至2014年发布的有关部署到伊拉克和阿富汗的军事人员呼吸系统健康的数据，发现了19项独特的研究。研究设计主要是回顾性和观察性的，以患者症状报告和医疗遭遇数据为主要结果指标。两个病例系列报告了罕见的呼吸系统疾病，一个病例对新发呼吸道症状进行了标准化评估。在2项单独的研究中描述了与接近特定空气污染源（即，燃烧垃圾产生的烟雾和硫磺矿火灾）相关的呼吸结果。仅比较了两次纵向调查，比较了部署前和部署后的运动能力测量结果。总之，基于病例报告和回顾性队列研究的已发表数据表明，与气道阻塞相一致的呼吸道症状和呼吸系统疾病的患病率较高。然而，慢性肺病和空气传播的危害暴露之间的联系需要进一步的纵向研究，并进行客观的肺评估。仅比较了两次纵向调查，比较了部署前和部署后的运动能力测量结果。总之，基于病例报告和回顾性队列研究的已发表数据表明，与气道阻塞相一致的呼吸道症状和呼吸系统疾病的患病率较高。然而，慢性肺病和空气传播的危害暴露之间的联系需要进一步的纵向研究，并进行客观的肺评估。仅比较了两次纵向调查，比较了部署前和部署后的运动能力测量结果。总之，基于病例报告和回顾性队列研究的已发表数据表明，与气道阻塞相一致的呼吸道症状和呼吸系统疾病的患病率较高。然而，慢性肺病和空气传播的危害暴露之间的联系需要进一步的纵向研究，并进行客观的肺评估。