H. Creasey et al., Is experience as a prisoner of war a risk factor for accelerated age-related illness and disability, J AM GER SO, 47(1), 1999, pp. 60-64
Citations number
33
Categorie Soggetti
Public Health & Health Care Science","General & Internal Medicine
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the experience of internment as a Prisoner
of War (POW) during World War II was associated with a higher prevalence of
chronic disease and diminished functional performance in later life.
DESIGN: A retrospective and prospective cohort design.
SETTING: Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
PARTICIPANTS: A random sample of 101 Australian, male, ex-prisoners of the
Japanese and a comparison group of 107 non-POW combatants from the same the
atre of war.
MEASUREMENTS: Outcome variables were self-perceived health status, hospital
admissions and length of stay, number of prescription medications used, nu
mber of somatic symptoms reported, number and types of medical diagnoses, a
neurology of aging clinical examination, and the Instrumental Activities o
f Daily Living (IADL) and Physical Self Maintenance Scales (PSMS).
RESULTS: Prisoners of War reported more somatic symptoms (mean 7.2 vs 5.4,
P =.002) than non-POWs, had more diagnoses (mean 9.4 vs 7.7 P <.001), and u
sed a greater number of different medications (mean 4.5 vs 3.4, P =.001). T
here were no differences in hospital admissions or length of stay. Among 15
broad categories of diagnosis, differences were confined to gastrointestin
al disorders (POWs 63% vs non-POWs 49%, P =.032), musculoskeletal disorders
(POWs 76% vs non-POWs 60%, P =.011), and cognitive disorders (excluding he
ad injury, dementia, and stroke) (POWs 31% vs non-POWs 15%, P =.006). Of th
e 36 signs in the neurology of aging examination, POWs had a significantly
higher proportion of seven extrapyramidal signs and six signs relating to a
taxia. POWs were more likely to be impaired on the IADL scale than were non
-POWs (33% vs 17%, P =.012) but not significantly more likely to be impaire
d on the PSMS.
CONCLUSIONS: There were few differences between POWs and controls, and thos
e differences were relatively small. Out findings do not support a major ro
le for a catastrophic life stress in the development of chronic illness and
disability in later life. However it is possible that the POW experience p
layed a part in premature, abnormal, or unsuccessful aging in some individu
als.