Functional gastrointestinal disorders among soldiers in peacetime versus out-of-area missions

Functional gastrointestinal syndromes are chronic disorders of the abdomen with an absence of organic findings. The aim of this study was to compare the frequency and symptomatology of functional abdominal syndromes in soldiers during an out-of-area mission versus during peacetime at home. We examined 124 soldiers who sought medical care for abdominal symptoms at the German Field Hospital Trogir, Croatia. The control group consisted of 113 soldiers who were referred with abdominal symptoms to the Central Hospital of German Armed Forces Koblenz, Germany. After excluding an organic disease, the diagnosis of a functional disorder was made. Fourteen percent of the Implementation Force soldiers had symptoms of a functional syndrome. At home, the frequency of functional gastrointestinal disorders was 50%, significantly greater than the rate during the out-of-area mission (p < 0.0001). We conclude that functional gastrointestinal disorders are more rare during out-of-area missions than during peacetime. They are probably as frequent away from home as at home, but "health care seeking" is less frequent under the stressful conditions of out-of-area missions.