Military medicine
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To improve urotrauma care by describing veterans' current demographics and needs assessment during transitional care to the Veteran Health Administration (VHA) system. ⋯ The majority of men with urotrauma did have contact with VHA, yet there is no systematic approach to baseline assessment or long-term care strategy. However, only a small proportion of DoD-documented urotrauma requires ongoing care. We identified that coordinating care with mental health pathways (PTSD/traumatic brain injury) may be an opportunity to evaluate the long-term effects of urotrauma.
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A wide variety of different types of wearable sensors are being developed around the world and introduced into the armed forces for military purposes. Competing states must rapidly develop ready-to-use systems that are robust, functional, valid, and practical. There appears to be potential for optimizing the successful and effective introduction of wearable sensors into the German armed forces (Bundeswehr) for military medical applications. The purpose of this study was to identify specific options for improving and optimizing the introduction of modern technologies such as wearable sensors into the structures of the German armed forces. ⋯ Several potential options have been identified that can optimize the introduction of wearable sensors into the German armed forces to a greater or lesser extent. Bundeswehr experts agree that above all structurally relevant improvements such as "development of data analysis standards," "legal requirements," "interdisciplinarity," "acceleration of development," and "centralization and structured cooperation" should play an important role in the implementation of wearable sensors.
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Review Case Reports
A Unique Case of COVID-19-related Acute Coronary Thrombosis Complicated by Severe Hypokalemia.
We report the case of a 52-year-old white male who was recently diagnosed with symptomatic coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) and presented to the hospital with ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation cardiac arrest, ST elevation myocardial infarction, and profound hypokalemia. The patient was successfully treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention and concurrent aggressive potassium repletion. ⋯ The association of COVID-19 with acute coronary thrombosis, including the challenges surrounding the diagnosis and management in this patient population, is discussed. Additionally, the effect of COVID-19 on the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system is reviewed with a focus on hypokalemic presentations.
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Although the benefits of employment for veterans with mental health conditions are well-known, the effect of veterans' employment on a health system has not been evaluated. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of veterans' employment (versus unemployment) on subsequent health care utilization in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). ⋯ VHA's investment in employment services for veterans with mental health and substance use disorders could reduce health care utilization system wide.
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Eating disorders are often under-detected, which poses a serious threat to the health of individuals with eating disorder symptoms. There is evidence to suggest that the military represents a subpopulation that may be susceptible to high prevalence of eating disorders and vulnerable to their underdiagnosis. Underreporting of eating disorder symptoms in the military could lead to this underdiagnosis of individuals with eating disorder symptoms. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between military affiliation and eating disorder symptoms among college students and the likelihood of eating disorder diagnosis among those with eating disorder symptoms using a large, diverse college-aged sample of both military-involved and civilian students. ⋯ The underdiagnosis of eating disorders is far too common, and this represents a threat to the health of military and civilian populations alike. Underdiagnosis of eating disorders within military environments may be due to underreporting, particularly among men and racial/ethnic minority groups.