The asthma accession standard: A survival analysis of military recruits, 1995 to 1997

Asthma has a significant impact on U.S. military expenditures and readiness . Every year approximately 1,000 recruits are discharged for asthma during their first 6 months of service. This study was done to evaluate the practi ce of allowing some individuals with a history of asthma to enter military service (waiving). A survival analysis was performed to compare length of t ime until discharge and asthma-related failure for individuals waived for a sthma (cases) and individuals not disqualified for asthma (controls). Cases were 587 recruit applicants initially disqualified who received waivers fo r asthma and accessed in the years 1995 to 1997. Controls were 1,761 matche d enlisted recruits starting basic training in those years. No significant differences were found with respect to general attrition. The statistical d ifferences for asthma-related hospitalization or discharge did not translat e into practical differences. Waiving for asthma was not a significant occu pational liability in terms of asthma-related hospitalization or early mili tary attrition.