Objective: Heat related illnesses are a common illness among conscripts during basic training course in Thailand and heat stroke is a major cause of death. Risk factors of heat related illnesses are generally known but there has not been a systematic review.

Materials and Methods: The authors conducted a systematic review using key words, including - (“heat injury” or “heat related illnesses” or “heat illness” or “heat related injury” or “heat stress”) and (“military” or “conscripts” or “marine”) and (“training” or “basic training course”) and (“risk factor”) and searched several electronic databases e.g. Pubmed and, -OVID during January 1990 and September 2018. Articles were selected according to a priori prospectively defined criteria. Analysis was done by descriptive statistics.

Results: Twenty-seven articles met the inclusion criteria. Just over half (55.5%) were original studies, including descriptive (25.9%) and case control studies (22.2%), and/or from the USA (52.9%), and/or involved the military (51.8%). The major identified risk factors in soldiers were: (i) abnormal body mass index (40.7%), (ii) inadequate hydration (40.7%), (iii) either not acclimatized or having low acclimatization (29.6%) and (iv) high ambient temperature (25.9%).

Conclusion: Knowledge of risk factors of heat related illnesses will help to prevent heat related illnesses among soldiers.

Keywords: Heat related illnesses, Heat related illness, Soldiers, Military, Risk factors