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 5347 men from four U.S. communities. METHODS: Measured an average of 36 years after military entry, carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and carotid plaque among non-combat veterans (n=2127) were compared with non-veterans (n=2042) and veterans reporting combat experience (n=1178). 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. Copyright (c) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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 5347 men from four U.S. communities. METHODS: Measured an average of 36 years after military entry, carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and carotid plaque among non-combat veterans (n=2127) were compared with non-veterans (n=2042) and veterans reporting combat experience (n=1178). 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. Copyright (c) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Authors: L E Chambless; G Heiss; A R Folsom; W Rosamond; M Szklo; A R Sharrett; L X Clegg Journal: Am J Epidemiol Date: 1997-09-15 Impact factor: 4.897
Authors: Wei Duan-Porter; Brian C Martinson; Nancy Greer; Brent C Taylor; Kristen Ullman; Lauren McKenzie; Christina Rosebush; Roderick MacDonald; Samuel Falde; Timothy J Wilt Journal: J Gen Intern Med Date: 2018-07-20 Impact factor: 5.128
Authors: Alexander N Bennett; Daniel Mark Dyball; Christopher J Boos; Nicola T Fear; Susie Schofield; Anthony M J Bull; Paul Cullinan Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2020-10-30 Impact factor: 2.692