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Table 4 Hazard ratios (HR) for early medical discharge from military service by health variables at baseline.

From: Low physical fitness is a strong predictor of health problems among young men: a follow-up study of 1411 male conscripts

Health variable

Category

Total number

(% of

discharged)

HR for

discharge

(n = 133) *

HR for

discharge

(n = 133) **

Body mass index

Underweight (BMI < 18.5)

56 (7)

1.4 (0.5-3.9)

1.3 (0.5-3.8)

(BMI = (kg)/(m)2)

Normal (18.5 ≤ BMI < 25.0)

812 (5)

1 (Referent)

1 (Referent)

 

Pre-obese (25.0 ≤ BMI < 30.0)

300 (6)

1.1 (0.6-1.9)

1.1 (0.6-2.0)

 

Obese (BMI ≥ 30.0)

104 (9)

1.7 (0.8-3.4)

1.7 (0.8-3.6)

Waist circumference

Thin (WC < 80)

271 (7)

1.5 (0.9-2.6)

1.2 (0.7-2.2)

(WC, cm)

Normal (80 ≤ WC < 94)

739 (5)

1 (Referent)

1 (Referent)

 

Increased (94 ≤ WC < 102)

178 (6)

1.1 (0.5-2.2)

0.9 (0.4-1.9)

 

High (WC ≥ 102)

122 (12)

2.5 (1.4-4.5)

2.4 (1.3-4.6)

Height (cm)

Shortest tertile (≤ 177 cm)

392 (6)

1.3 (0.7-2.3)

1.3 (0.7-2.3)

 

Middle tertile (178-183 cm)

477 (6)

1.2 (0.7-2.2)

1.2 (0.7-2.2)

 

Tallest tertile (≥ 184 cm)

403 (5)

1 (Referent)

1 (Referent)

Self-assessed health 1

Good or very good

743 (5)

1 (Referent)

1 (Referent)

 

Average

558 (12)

2.4 (1.6-3.5)

1.7 (1.1-2.6)

 

Inferior

88 (26)

5.7 (3.4-9.5)

2.8 (1.6-5.2)

Chronic disease

No

1012 (8)

1 (Referent)

1 (Referent)

 

Yes

377 (14)

1.8 (1.3-2.6)

1.6 (1.1-2.3)

Regular medication

No

1235 (9)

1 (Referent)

1 (Referent)

 

Yes

150 (15)

1.8 (1.2-2.8)

1.3 (0.8-2.2)

Orthopaedic surgery

Never

1273 (10)

1 (Referent)

1 (Referent)

 

Yes

114 (7)

0.7 (0.3-1.4)

0.8 (0.4-1.7)

Chronic impairment

No

1165 (9)

1 (Referent)

1 (Referent)

or disability 2

Yes

219 (13)

1.5 (1.0-2.3)

1.1 (0.7-1.8)

Sports injury during

No

1254 (9)

1 (Referent)

1 (Referent)

last month

Yes

130 (15)

1.7 (1.0-2.7)

1.7 (1.0-2.9)

Sum factor of other

Minimal symptoms 3

440 (6)

1 (Referent)

1 (Referent)

musculoskeletal

Mild symptoms 4

548 (9)

1.5 (0.9-2.4)

1.3 (0.8-2.2)

symptoms

Clear symptoms 5

400 (13)

2.3 (1.4-3.6)

1.6 (1.0-2.9)

  1. Variable distribution was charted in 1411 male conscripts during the first week of military service and discharge outcomes were registered during the following 6-month military service. Statistically significant findings are indicated with bold type.
  2. 1 Compared to age-mates
  3. 2 Due to prior musculoskeletal injury.
  4. 3 'Minimal symptoms': maximum 7-day lasting symptom in one anatomical region during the last month before military entry.
  5. 4 'Mild symptoms': symptoms in 2 to 6 anatomical regions but the symptoms had lasted a week maximum during the last month before military entry.
  6. 5 'Clear symptoms': included the remaining conscripts.
  7. * Adjusted for age (univariate)
  8. ** Adjusted for age, company, smoking (previous or current smoker), alcohol intake, baseline medical conditions (sports injury during last month, sum factor of earlier musculoskeletal symptoms during the last month before entering the military, chronic impairment or disability due to prior musculoskeletal injury, chronic disease, regular medication), school success (educational level and grades combined), urbanisation level of the place of residence, participating in ball games, last degree achieved in school sports, physical activity during the previous 3 months before entering the military, self-assessed health, belonging to a sports club and participation in competitive sports (17 adjusting variables).
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BMC Public Health

ISSN: 1471-2458

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