Article

An apparent increased risk for developing Amyotrophic Lateral
Sclerosis (ALS), a multifactorial neurodegenerative disease, is considered to
exist in the military population. METHODS:
ALS military and veteran
patients were retrospectively recruited in April 2008 by searching medical data
(Hippocrate) and repayment data (Erasme) of the French National Military Health
Care Fund (Caisse nationale militaire de securite sociale, CNMSS) from de January
1991 to December 2007. RESULTS: We report a series of 73 patients, 69 male and
four female, average age of 52.5 years (range 27 to 72 years) with a peak of
patients in the 50-59 year age class. The branch of military service was Army
(n=26 patients), Air force (n=14), Navy (n=10) and State Police Force (n=22). The
incidence among male active duty military personnel was stable from 2002 to 2007;
it was less than the general population (1.7/100,000 per year in 2007), but
higher in the 40-44 and 50-54 year age classes (1.90 and 5.07/100,000 per year in
2007 respectively). Duration of active duty was on average 31 years. CONCLUSION:
The retrospective nature of the data and the incomplete population with loss of
retired military personnel without CNMSS affiliation are limitations of our
study. Another means of collecting all cases of ALS among French military
personnel and veterans would be to conduct a search in the 17 ALS centers in France with analysis by occupational activity for entire career.

Langue : FRANCAIS