Citation
Johnson, Anna M.; Rose, Kathryn M.; Elder, Glen H., Jr.; Chambless, Lloyd E.; Kaufman, Jay S.; & Heiss, Gerardo M. (2010). Military Combat and Burden of Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Middle Aged Men: The ARIC Study. Preventive Medicine, 50(5-6), 277-281. PMCID: PMC2866820Abstract
BACKGROUND: Studies of the cardiovascular consequences of combat stress are few and inconclusive. OBJECTIVE: The association between combat exposure and subclinical atherosclerosis at Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study visits 1 (1987-1989) and 2 (1990-1992) was assessed among 5,347 men from four U.S. communities.METHODS: Measured an average of 36years after military entry, carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and carotid plaque among non-combat veterans (n=2,127) was compared with non-veterans (n=2,042) and veterans reporting combat experience (n=1,178).
RESULTS: Compared to non-combat veterans, non-veterans (Risk Difference (RD): 10.61; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.81, 20.41) and combat veterans (RD: 12.79; 95% CI: 0.72, 24.86) had higher age-adjusted mean CIMT. Differences remained for combat veterans after adjustment for race, father's education and age at service entry but not years of service and for non-veterans after adjustment for race but not father's education. No differences in carotid plaque were noted.
CONCLUSION: Results do not suggest that combat has a long-term detrimental effect on subclinical atherosclerosis among men.
URL
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2010.02.009Reference Type
Journal ArticleYear Published
2010Journal Title
Preventive MedicineAuthor(s)
Johnson, Anna M.Rose, Kathryn M.
Elder, Glen H., Jr.
Chambless, Lloyd E.
Kaufman, Jay S.
Heiss, Gerardo M.