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

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.