Prevalence and risk factors of training-related abdominal injuries: A multicenter survey study

Chuan Pang; Wen-Quan Liang; Gan Zhang; Ting-Ting Lu; Yun-He Gao; Xin Miao; Zhi-Da Chen; Yi Liu; Wen-Tong Xu; Hong-Qing Xi

doi:10.1016/j.cjtee.2024.09.003

Prevalence and risk factors of training-related abdominal injuries: A multicenter survey study

Chin J Traumatol. 2024 Sep 10:S1008-1275(24)00113-5. doi: 10.1016/j.cjtee.2024.09.003. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Chuan Pang¹, Wen-Quan Liang², Gan Zhang³, Ting-Ting Lu³, Yun-He Gao², Xin Miao⁴, Zhi-Da Chen⁴, Yi Liu⁴, Wen-Tong Xu⁴, Hong-Qing Xi⁵

Affiliations

¹ Division of Abdominal Trauma Surgery, Department of General Surgery, First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China; Department of Interventional Ultrasound, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China.
² Division of Gastric Surgery, Department of General Surgery, First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China.
³ Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, 100853, China.
⁴ Division of Abdominal Trauma Surgery, Department of General Surgery, First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China.
⁵ Division of Abdominal Trauma Surgery, Department of General Surgery, First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China. Electronic address: xihongqing@126.com.

PMID: 39294091
DOI: 10.1016/j.cjtee.2024.09.003

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to identify the prevalence and risk factors of military training-related abdominal injuries and help plan and conduct training properly.

Methods: This questionnaire survey study was conducted from October 2021 to May 2022 among military personnel from 6 military units and 8 military medical centers and participants' medical records were consulted to identify the training-related abdominal injuries. All the military personnel who ever participated in military training were included. Those who refused to participate in this study or provided an incomplete questionnaire were excluded. The questionnaire collected demographic information, type of abdominal injury, frequency, training subjects, triggers, treatment, and training disturbance. Chi-square test and t-test were used to compare baseline information. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were used to explore the risk factors associated with military training-related abdominal injuries.

Results: A total of 3058 participants were involved in this study, among which 1797 (58.8%) had suffered training-related abdominal injuries (the mean age was 24.3 years and the service time was 5.6 years), while 1261 (41.2%) had no training-related abdominal injuries (the mean age was 23.1 years and the service time was 4.3 years). There were 546 injured patients (30.4%) suspended the training and 84 (4.6%) needed to be referred to higher-level hospitals. The most common triggers included inadequate warm-up, fatigue, and intense training. The training subjects with the most abdominal injuries were long-distance running (589, 32.8%). Civil servants had the highest rate of abdominal trauma (17.1%). Age ≥ 25 years, military service ≥ 3 years, poor sleep status, and previous abdominal history were independent risk factors for training-related abdominal injury.

Conclusion: More than half of the military personnel have suffered military training-related abdominal injuries. Inadequate warm-up, fatigue, and high training intensity are the most common inducing factors. Scientific and proper training should be conducted according to the factors causing abdominal injuries.

Keywords: Abdomen; Inducing factor; Military training; Risk factor; Training-related injury.