Study links repeated low-level blast exposure to anger risk in veterans
University of Utah Health researchers found higher rates of documented anger and aggression among veterans who held military jobs with more blast exposure.
By Priya Raghavan · Science Reporter
3 min read
Veterans who served in military jobs with greater exposure to repeated low-level blast waves had a higher likelihood of later anger, aggression or violence concerns appearing in their medical records, according to University of Utah Health researchers. The finding matters because many of those exposures happen during training, where researchers said risk may be easier to reduce.
The study, published in Military Medicine, examined health records from 10,000 veterans. University of Utah Health said the research team used a secure, offline artificial intelligence system to review clinical notes for language tied to anger or frustration, then checked a sample of the AI classifications by hand.
The researchers compared 5,000 veterans who had served in roles considered higher risk for blast exposure with 5,000 veterans from lower-risk roles. University of Utah Health said the higher-exposure group included jobs such as infantry, artillery and weapons instruction, where service members may fire heavy weapons or work near explosions.
Those shock waves generally are below the level expected to cause an immediate concussion or obvious trauma, according to the university. The study adds to evidence that repeated low-level blasts may have longer-term health effects, even when a person does not report an acute injury at the time.
Higher documented rates, but anger remained uncommon
The research team found that 17% of veterans in higher-blast-exposure roles had anger, aggression or violence documented somewhere in their clinical records, compared with 12% of veterans in lower-exposure jobs, University of Utah Health reported.
The university also emphasized that anger-related language was uncommon across the records overall. Fewer than 3% of clinical notes in both groups mentioned anger, aggression or violence, according to the researchers.
Eamonn Kennedy, a research assistant professor of epidemiology at University of Utah Health and a research health science specialist at the VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, led the study. Kennedy said the effect was moderate, but the findings point to long-term occupational blast exposure as one risk factor for anger, separate from other military exposures.
PTSD and other risks remain part of the picture
The study did not present blast exposure as the only explanation for later anger concerns. University of Utah Health said veterans in higher-exposure jobs may also be more likely to experience post-traumatic stress disorder, physical injury, stress, trauma and other psychiatric conditions that can affect anger and aggression.
After researchers accounted for PTSD and other contributing factors, blast exposure still had a small but meaningful association with anger risk, according to the university. Kennedy said occupational blast exposure can add strain for people already dealing with other health challenges.
The researchers said the results could help guide steps to limit harm. Because much occupational blast exposure occurs in controlled training settings, Kennedy said military programs may have room to keep personnel prepared while lowering the risk of negative health consequences.
University of Utah Health said the findings support treating chronic low-level blast exposure as one of several linked factors that may influence veterans’ health. The study’s authors said reducing exposure where possible could become part of broader efforts to protect service members and veterans.
This story draws on original reporting from Medical Xpress.