Medical evacuations out of the U.S. Central Command, active and reserve components, U.S. Armed Forces, 2019

Area of Science:

• Military Medicine
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Medical evacuations (MEDEVAC) are critical for service member health in operational theaters.
• Understanding trends in MEDEVAC is essential for resource allocation and healthcare planning.
• The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility presents unique health challenges for military personnel.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the trends and characteristics of medical evacuations from the CENTCOM area of responsibility in 2019.
• To identify the primary causes and demographic factors associated with service member medical evacuations.
• To assess the outcomes of service members following medical evacuation and subsequent treatment.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of medical evacuation data from the CENTCOM AOR for 2019.
• Categorization of evacuations by diagnosis, including mental health disorders, battle injuries, and non-battle injuries/illnesses.
• Examination of demographic data (ethnicity, age, service branch, rank, occupation) of evacuated service members.

Main Results:

• A total of 1,142 medical evacuations occurred from the CENTCOM AOR in 2019.
• Mental health disorders represented the most frequent reason for medical evacuation.
• Battle injury evacuations showed a 65.7% increase from 2015-2019, despite a recent stabilization.
• Non-Hispanic white, 20-24 year old, Army personnel, junior/senior enlisted, and those in repair/engineering roles comprised the largest demographic groups evacuated.

Conclusions:

• Mental health conditions are a significant driver of medical evacuations in the U.S. military operational settings.
• While battle injuries have increased, non-battle illnesses and injuries remain a substantial concern.
• Most evacuated service members successfully return to duty, highlighting the effectiveness of post-evacuation care.