Medical examination of Israeli 17-year-olds before military service as a national resource for health information.

摘要: At age 17 years Israelis undergo medical examination for the purpose of health classification military service. The potential use this extensive data collection system epidemiologic studies is illustrated selected conditions. Trends in diagnosed disorders over a 25-year period are exemplified changing prevalence tuberculosis, bronchial asthma, diabetes, epilepsy and heart defects. Within birth cohorts, cross-sectional analyses height, body mass, blood pressure disorders--such as allergic rhinitis, psychiatric diagnoses such genetic conditions familial Mediterranean fever--point to clear ethnic differences. Educational level strongly associated with measures status. Potential uses resource include: detecting groups need preventive, curative rehabilitative care, assessing needs priorities evaluation intervention programs services provided childhood, wide spectrum etiologic including assessment effects social change, follow-up natural history disorders, developing systems national registries rare or important Issues relating reliability validity, disease nonexamination exempted from service limit interpretation findings restrict resource. Emphasis on standardization diagnostic criteria, quality assurance improved management will be necessary.