Contraindications to Mefloquine Use in US Military Personnel
Author Information
Author(s): Nevin Remington L, Pietrusiak Paul P, Caci Jennifer B
Primary Institution: Army Medical Surveillance Activity
Hypothesis
What is the prevalence of contraindications to mefloquine use among U.S. military personnel deployed to Afghanistan?
Conclusion
A significant portion of U.S. military personnel deployed to Afghanistan have contraindications to mefloquine use, particularly among females.
Supporting Evidence
- 9.6% of the cohort had evidence of a contraindication to mefloquine use.
- Females were more than twice as likely as males to have a contraindication.
- The study utilized military medical surveillance databases for data collection.
- The findings highlight the need for careful screening before prescribing mefloquine.
Takeaway
Some soldiers can't take a malaria medicine called mefloquine because of health issues, especially women.
Methodology
The study used military medical surveillance and pharmacosurveillance databases to identify contraindications to mefloquine use in a cohort of active duty U.S. military personnel.
Potential Biases
The study may be subject to the 'healthy-warrior effect', which could underestimate the prevalence of health conditions.
Limitations
The study's findings may not be generalizable to the non-military U.S. population due to the specific health selection of military personnel.
Participant Demographics
The cohort consisted of 90.5% males and 9.5% females, with a majority under the age of 40.
Statistical Information
P-Value
<0.001
Confidence Interval
95% CI 2.11–2.93
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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