Personal risk factors associated with heat-related illness among new conscripts undergoing basic training in Thailand.
Cases of exertional heat stroke have been reported every year during basic training for Royal Thai Army (RTA) conscripts. Prevention is an important strategy to reduce the incidence of heat-related illnesses. We conducted a study to identify potential indicators for the prevention and monitoring of...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2018-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC6122829?pdf=render |
| _version_ | 1817979996511141888 |
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| author | Rudchanu Nutong Mathirut Mungthin Panadda Hatthachote Supak Ukritchon Worarachanee Imjaijit Pimrapat Tengtrakulcharoen Suthee Panichkul Panwadee Putwatana Wonnapha Prapaipanich Ram Rangsin |
| author_facet | Rudchanu Nutong Mathirut Mungthin Panadda Hatthachote Supak Ukritchon Worarachanee Imjaijit Pimrapat Tengtrakulcharoen Suthee Panichkul Panwadee Putwatana Wonnapha Prapaipanich Ram Rangsin |
| author_sort | Rudchanu Nutong |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cases of exertional heat stroke have been reported every year during basic training for Royal Thai Army (RTA) conscripts. Prevention is an important strategy to reduce the incidence of heat-related illnesses. We conducted a study to identify potential indicators for the prevention and monitoring of heat-related illnesses among military conscripts undergoing basic training in Thailand. All newly inducted RTA conscripts in 5 basic training units in 5 regions in Thailand were invited to participate in a prospective cohort study from May 1 to July 9, 2013. The incidence rate of heat-related illnesses and the incidence rate ratio (IRR) based on a Poisson regression model were used to identify the independent factors associated with heat-related illnesses, daily tympanic (body) temperatures higher than 37.5°C, >3% decreases in body weight in one day, and the production of dark brown urine. Eight hundred and nine men aged 21.4 (±1.13) years were enrolled in this study. The prevalence of a body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m2 was 5.5%. During the study period, 53 subjects (6.6%) representing 3.41/100 person-months (95% confidence interval (CI), 2.55-4.23) developed heat-related illnesses (excluding heat rash), and no subjects experienced heat stroke. The incidence rates of a daily tympanic temperature >37.5°C at least once, body weight loss of >3% per day, and the production of dark brown urine at least once were 8.27/100 person-months (95% CI, 7.69-8.93), 47.91/100 person-months (95% CI, 44.22-51.58), and 682.11/100 person-months (95% CI, 635.49-728.52), respectively. The sole identified independent factor related to the incidence of heat-related illnesses was a BMI ≥30 kg/m2 (adjusted IRR = 2.66, 95% CI, 1.01-7.03). In conclusion, a high BMI was associated with heat-related illnesses among conscripts undergoing basic training in Thailand. Daily monitoring of heat-related illnesses, body temperature, body weight and urine color in each new conscript during basic military training was feasible. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T22:49:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-205bd63222f54070a5a110619ed7b65f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T22:49:00Z |
| publishDate | 2018-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-205bd63222f54070a5a110619ed7b65f2022-12-22T02:26:15ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032018-01-01139e020342810.1371/journal.pone.0203428Personal risk factors associated with heat-related illness among new conscripts undergoing basic training in Thailand.Rudchanu NutongMathirut MungthinPanadda HatthachoteSupak UkritchonWorarachanee ImjaijitPimrapat TengtrakulcharoenSuthee PanichkulPanwadee PutwatanaWonnapha PrapaipanichRam RangsinCases of exertional heat stroke have been reported every year during basic training for Royal Thai Army (RTA) conscripts. Prevention is an important strategy to reduce the incidence of heat-related illnesses. We conducted a study to identify potential indicators for the prevention and monitoring of heat-related illnesses among military conscripts undergoing basic training in Thailand. All newly inducted RTA conscripts in 5 basic training units in 5 regions in Thailand were invited to participate in a prospective cohort study from May 1 to July 9, 2013. The incidence rate of heat-related illnesses and the incidence rate ratio (IRR) based on a Poisson regression model were used to identify the independent factors associated with heat-related illnesses, daily tympanic (body) temperatures higher than 37.5°C, >3% decreases in body weight in one day, and the production of dark brown urine. Eight hundred and nine men aged 21.4 (±1.13) years were enrolled in this study. The prevalence of a body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m2 was 5.5%. During the study period, 53 subjects (6.6%) representing 3.41/100 person-months (95% confidence interval (CI), 2.55-4.23) developed heat-related illnesses (excluding heat rash), and no subjects experienced heat stroke. The incidence rates of a daily tympanic temperature >37.5°C at least once, body weight loss of >3% per day, and the production of dark brown urine at least once were 8.27/100 person-months (95% CI, 7.69-8.93), 47.91/100 person-months (95% CI, 44.22-51.58), and 682.11/100 person-months (95% CI, 635.49-728.52), respectively. The sole identified independent factor related to the incidence of heat-related illnesses was a BMI ≥30 kg/m2 (adjusted IRR = 2.66, 95% CI, 1.01-7.03). In conclusion, a high BMI was associated with heat-related illnesses among conscripts undergoing basic training in Thailand. Daily monitoring of heat-related illnesses, body temperature, body weight and urine color in each new conscript during basic military training was feasible.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC6122829?pdf=render |
| spellingShingle | Rudchanu Nutong Mathirut Mungthin Panadda Hatthachote Supak Ukritchon Worarachanee Imjaijit Pimrapat Tengtrakulcharoen Suthee Panichkul Panwadee Putwatana Wonnapha Prapaipanich Ram Rangsin Personal risk factors associated with heat-related illness among new conscripts undergoing basic training in Thailand. PLoS ONE |
| title | Personal risk factors associated with heat-related illness among new conscripts undergoing basic training in Thailand. |
| title_full | Personal risk factors associated with heat-related illness among new conscripts undergoing basic training in Thailand. |
| title_fullStr | Personal risk factors associated with heat-related illness among new conscripts undergoing basic training in Thailand. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Personal risk factors associated with heat-related illness among new conscripts undergoing basic training in Thailand. |
| title_short | Personal risk factors associated with heat-related illness among new conscripts undergoing basic training in Thailand. |
| title_sort | personal risk factors associated with heat related illness among new conscripts undergoing basic training in thailand |
| url | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC6122829?pdf=render |
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