The Impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Nonpharmaceutical Interventions on Incidence of Acute Gastroenteritis and Acute Respiratory Infections Among US Military and Dependents

Bevin Manuelpillai*, Benjamin Lopman, Charlotte R. Doran, Chad Porter

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) for coronavirus disease 2019 resulted in the reduction of many viral diseases aside from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, but their impact on the United States military or beneficiary population has not been assessed. Using TRICARE data (2016–2023), we modeled changes in acute gastroenteritis (AGE) and acute respiratory infection (ARI) encounters pre- and postpandemic. In 2020, AGE and ARI encounters decreased substantially (rate ratio [RR] = 0.50 [95% confidence interval {CI}, .31–.80]; RR = 0.60 [95% CI, .41–.88], respectively). By 2022, AGE remained suppressed while ARI had rebounded. Since 2022, AGE encounters among military personnel remained reduced compared to beneficiaries. NPIs had a greater, lasting effect on AGE than ARI encounters.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)e1075-e1079
JournalJournal of Infectious Diseases
Volume231
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 15 Jun 2025

Keywords

  • US active duty military
  • acute gastroenteritis
  • acute respiratory infection
  • military beneficiaries
  • nonpharmaceutical interventions

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