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Table 7 Hazard ratios (HR) for early medical discharge stratified by musculoskeletal and mental reason categories.

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

Variable

Category

Total number (% of discharged§)

HR for

discharge§

(n = 133) *

HR for

discharge§

(n = 133)

Discharge due to musculoskeletal reasons

   

   Urbanisation level of the place of residence

< 10000 inhabitants

537 (3)

1 (Referent)

1 (Referent)

 

≥ 10000 inhabitants

850 (5)

1.9 (1.1-3-4)

2.3 (1.3-4.4)

   Chronic disease

No

1012 (4)

1 (Referent)

1 (Referent)

 

Yes

377 (6)

1.6 (1.0-2.8)

1.8 (1.0-3.2)

   Co-impairment in sit-up and push-up test

No

1215 (3)

1 (Referent)

1 (Referent)

 

Yes, poor results in both tests

163 (7)

2.6 (1.4-5.1)

2.4 (1.2-4.7)

Discharge due to mental reasons

   

   Age

18-19 years

1052 (2)

1 (Referent)

1 (Referent)

 

20-28 years

359 (5)

2.9 (1.5-5.4)

2.7 (1.4-5.3)

   Self-assessed health 1

Good or very good

743 (1)

1 (Referent)

1 (Referent)

 

Average

558 (3)

3.0 (1.3-6.9)

2.1 (0.9-5.4)

 

Inferior

88 (15)

15.4 (6.4-37.2)

7.8 (2.7-22.4)

   Use of alcohol

< 1 time per month

254 (5)

1 (Referent)

1 (Referent)

 

1-2 times per week

894 (1)

0.3 (0.1-0.7)

0.3 (0.1-0.6)

 

≥ 3 times per week

240 (5)

1.1 (0.5-2.5)

0.6 (0.3-1.4)

  1. Variable distribution was charted in 1411 male conscripts during the first two weeks of military service and discharge outcomes were registered during the following 6-month military service. Statistically significant findings are indicated with bold type.
  2. § Discharge due to musculoskeletal or mental reasons
  3. 1 Compared to age-mates
  4. * Adjusted for age (univariate)
  5. Adjusted for age, company, father's occupational group, smoking (previous or current smoker), frequency of drunkenness, baseline medical conditions (sum factor of earlier musculoskeletal symptoms during the last month before entering the military, chronic disease), 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 (15 adjusting variables).
  6. Adjusted for age, alcohol intake, baseline medical conditions (sum factor of earlier musculoskeletal symptoms during the last month before entering the military, chronic impairment or disability) school success (educational level and grades combined), participating in ball games, last degree achieved in school sports, physical activity during the previous 3 months before entering the military, self-assessed health and participation in competitive sports (10 adjusting variables).