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Mortality From Fungal Diseases in the US Air Force From 1970 to 2013
Richard K Kugblenu1, Will K Reeves
1New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York.
Abstract:
We review a unique set of documents, death certificates, catalogued in the US Air Force Mortality Registry, which tracks deaths for current and retired Air Force service members. We screened the records for all deaths caused by fungal diseases between 1970 and 2013. There were 216 deaths caused by a variety of diseases such as aspergillosis, blastomycosis, candidiasis, coccidioidomycosis, cryptococcosis, histoplasmosis, mucormycosis, pneumocystosis, sporotrichosis, and zygomycosis. The single most common identified cause of death was opportunistic candidiasis. Of the total 216 deaths, only 7 were active duty or active reserve personnel.
Insights
US Air Force members experienced 216 fungal disease deaths from 1970-2013, with candidiasis being the most frequent cause. Most deaths were among retired personnel, not active duty service members.
Area of Science:
- Medical Mycology
- Epidemiology
- Military Health
Background:
- Fungal infections pose a significant threat to human health.
- Understanding mortality patterns from fungal diseases in specific populations is crucial for public health initiatives.
- The US Air Force Mortality Registry provides a unique dataset for studying causes of death among service members.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the incidence and causes of death due to fungal diseases among US Air Force personnel.
- To identify the most prevalent fungal pathogens responsible for mortality.
- To differentiate mortality rates between active duty and retired personnel.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of death certificates from the US Air Force Mortality Registry.
- Data screening for deaths attributed to fungal diseases between 1970 and 2013.
- Categorization of fungal diseases and identification of the most common causes of death.
Main Results:
- A total of 216 deaths caused by fungal diseases were identified between 1970 and 2013.
- Opportunistic candidiasis was the most frequently identified cause of death.
- Only 7 of the 216 deaths involved active duty or active reserve personnel.
Conclusions:
- Fungal diseases have been a cause of mortality in US Air Force personnel over a 43-year period.
- Candidiasis represents a significant cause of fungal disease-related death in this population.
- The majority of fungal disease deaths occurred in retired personnel, highlighting the importance of long-term health surveillance.