Military Service Outcomes among Volunteers with Inflammatory Bowel Disease in the Israel Defense Forces: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic relapsing condition affecting millions worldwide, often diagnosed during young adulthood and associated with significant functional impairment. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) allows citizens with IBD and other chronic medical conditions to volunteer for military service through a special medical volunteer program. No comprehensive study has examined the impact of military service on disease progression or military performance.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the association between IBD and military service-related outcomes, including service completion and occupational stability, among IDF medical volunteers.

METHODS

In this retrospective study, we examined 734 volunteer soldiers with IBD who served in the IDF between 2019 and 2024. Data were collected from computerized medical records and included demographic, occupational, and medical information.

RESULTS

Among 734 IBD volunteers, 96.7% successfully completed their military service. Male sex (odds ratio 3.73) and lower sick leave utilization (odds ratio 3.13) were key predictors of service completion in multivariable analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings suggest that the vast majority of IBD volunteers successfully completed military service, with male sex and lower sick leave utilization as predictors of completion. Given these outcomes, consideration should be given to including carefully selected IBD patients within the standard medical classification system, based on individualized assessment of disease stability and functional capacity, with a non-combat profile, rather than through the volunteer program.