Research finds elevated risk of respiratory diseases among deployed U.S. Veterans
Research presented at ACAAI 2025 shows deployed Veterans face increased risks of chronic respiratory issues, with exposure to poor air quality identified as a key factor, calling for enhanced surveillance and care.
A study of nearly 50,000 deployed U.S. Veterans discovered a connection between serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and developing certain chronic respiratory conditions. The findings are summarized in a press release and were presented at the 2025 Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) in Orlando.
The researchers attribute the higher risk of asthma, chronic rhinitis, chronic rhinosinusitis, and nasal polyposis to being exposed to poor air conditions. Deployed Veterans with no prior history of asthma “had a 55% higher risk compared with non-deployed peers,” according to ACAAI. Risk of chronic rhinitis and nasal polyposis was 41% and 48% higher, respectively. Deployed Veterans’ risk of developing chronic rhinosinusitis was 27% higher.
The authors call for better surveillance and care to support these Veterans.
