• Stuart Hitchcock, Samantha A Cintron, Lalon Kasuske, J DiazFranciscoFDepartment of Biostatistics and Data Science, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA., and Janet Pierce.
• Hospital Education and Training, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD 20889, USA.
• Mil Med. 2024 May 18; 189 (5-6): e1277e1281e1277-e1281.

IntroductionDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, a significant number of individuals experienced persistent symptoms, collectively termed post-COVID-19 condition (PCC) by the World Health Organization. While civilian prevalence has been extensively studied, little is known about PCC in military personnel. This article highlights the need for increased awareness, documentation, and research on PCC within the military context, utilizing the Defense Health Agency database.Materials And MethodsA keyword search of the PubMed, CINAHL, and Web of Science databases was performed utilizing the keywords: military, post-COVID conditions, long COVID-19, and post-COVID19 syndrome. A five-stage integrative review framework was used to analyze 40 reports and research articles published from 2019 to 2023 to assess the current state of PCC research, including epidemiology, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 variants, pathophysiology, and prevalence in military personnel.ResultsOur review revealed a notable gap in research on PCC within the military population, with only a few mentions in the literature. A key finding was the association between immunization status, symptom severity, and ethnicity in PCC development.ConclusionTo comprehensively address PCC in military personnel, it is imperative to foster both awareness and documentation. Creating a centralized Defense Health Agency-DoD repository for active duty service members with PCC diagnoses offers a valuable opportunity to conduct trend analysis, identify missed cases, and better understand the individual and military readiness implications of this condition. Additionally, to address the educational needs of clinicians, it is essential to develop continuing medical education and continuing nursing education programs focusing on PCC signs, symptoms, and their impact on readiness. Furthermore, randomized controlled trials and longitudinal experimental clinical trials are essential for monitoring service members over time, providing valuable insights into the course of PCC and potential interventions. These research endeavors collectively contribute to improving the health, readiness, and care of military personnel affected by PCC.© The Association of Military Surgeons of the United States 2023. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

43 keywords...

hide…