Cardiovascular Disease in a Forward Military Hospital during Operation Iraqi Freedom: A Report from Deployed Cardiologists

Abstract

Background: No published data are available regarding cardiac evaluations in a forward military hospital setting. Methods: Two cardiologists deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom identified all of their cardiac evaluations. Patient demographic data, evaluations performed, outcomes, and return-to-duty rates were determined. Results: Four hundred sixty-nine predominantly male patients were evaluated, with a mean age of 39 ± 10 years. The most common reasons for referral were ischemic evaluation (n = 283), arrhythmia/palpitations (n = 83), and syncope (n = 57). Of those referred with ischemia, the mean Framingham 10-year event risk calculated was low at 5.3 ± 3.1%; 86% of military patient evaluations revealed no identifiable cardiovascular pathological condition, and patients were returned to duty. Conclusions: Cardiology support, with the availability of echocardiography and stress testing in the theater of operations, was able to provide cardiovascular consultative evaluations and management and to reduce rates of medical evacuations out of the theater of operations.