Final answer:
While infectious diseases have historically caused significant mortality among service members, traumatic brain injuries and heart disease have become prevalent causes of death and disability. Access to care is a critical determinant of health outcomes, with heart disease being the number one cause in the U.S. due to lifestyle factors.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question regarding what continues to be the number one cause of hospital admissions and service member deaths is multifaceted. Historically, infectious diseases have been a significant cause of death among military personnel. However, in more recent contexts, other factors like traumatic brain injuries have emerged as major causes of death and disability. In the United States, heart disease is reported to be the leading cause of death, commonly attributed to sedentary lifestyles and high trans-fat diets. Moreover, the availability and access to medical care play crucial roles in mortality rates, as seen in the comparison of healthcare resources between high- and low-income countries.
It is also important to note that the spread of infectious diseases continues to be a risk factor for hospital admissions and deaths among service members, as witnessed in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The reduction of medical experts, insufficient supplies of equipment, and inconsistent policies have been identified as contributing factors in the management of such infectious disease outbreaks.