scholarly journals Dementia in Scottish military veterans: early evidence from a retrospective cohort study

2022 ◽  
pp. 1-1
Author(s):  
Hui-Yuan Chen ◽  
Renin Chang ◽  
James Cheng-Chung Wei
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
Retrospective Cohort Study ◽  
Retrospective Cohort ◽  
Military Veterans ◽  
Early Evidence

scholarly journals Dementia in Scottish military veterans: early evidence from a retrospective cohort study

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
B. P. Bergman ◽  
D. F. Mackay ◽  
J. P. Pell
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
Mood Disorder ◽  
Retrospective Cohort Study ◽  
Military Service ◽  
Retrospective Cohort ◽  
Military Veterans ◽  
Cognitive Status ◽  
Proportional Hazard ◽  
Cox Proportional Hazard ◽  
Increased Risk

Abstract Background Few studies have examined whether UK military veterans are at an increased risk of dementia. We explored the risk of dementia in Scottish military veterans aged up to 73 years in comparison with people who have never served. Methods Retrospective cohort study of 78 000 veterans and 253 000 people with no record of service, matched for age, sex and area of residence, with up to 37 years follow-up, using Cox proportional hazard analysis to compare risk of dementia in veterans and non-veterans, overall and by subgroup. Results Dementia was recorded in 0.2% of both veterans and non-veterans overall, Cox proportional hazard ratio 0.98, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.82–1.19, p = 0.879 (landmark age: 50 years), with no difference for men but increased risk in veteran women and Early Service Leavers. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was associated with a higher risk of dementia in both veterans and non-veterans, although possibly to a lesser degree in veterans. A history of mood disorder was strongly associated with developing dementia, greater in veterans than in non-veterans, odds ratio 1.54, 95% CI 1.01–2.35, p = 0.045. Conclusions There was no evidence to suggest that military service increased the risk of dementia, although this may change as the cohort ages. The well-documented association with PTSD shows no evidence of being stronger in veterans; by contrast, the association of mood disorder with dementia is much stronger in veterans. Healthcare providers should carefully assess the cognitive status of older veterans presenting with depressive illness in order to identify early dementia and ensure optimum management.

scholarly journals Suicide in Scottish military veterans: a 30-year retrospective cohort study

2017 ◽  
Vol 67 (5) ◽  
pp. 350-355 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. P. Bergman ◽  
D. F. Mackay ◽  
D. J. Smith ◽  
J. P. Pell
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
Retrospective Cohort Study ◽  
Retrospective Cohort ◽  
Military Veterans

scholarly journals Trends in cardiovascular disease in Scottish military veterans: a retrospective cohort study

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. e044465
Author(s):  
Beverly P Bergman ◽  
Daniel F Mackay ◽  
Jill P Pell
Keyword(s):  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Retrospective Cohort Study ◽  
Retrospective Cohort ◽  
Military Veterans ◽  
Military Health ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
The Difference

ObjectivesTo examine the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Scottish military veterans in comparison with people who had never served in long-term follow-up to 2017, and to compare the findings with our earlier study to 2012 to assess trends.DesignRetrospective cohort study with up to 37 years follow-up.SettingPseudo-anonymised extract of computerised Scottish National Health Service records and national vital records.Participants78 000 veterans and 253 000 people with no record of service matched for age, sex and area of residence.Outcome measuresRisk of first occurrence of acute myocardial infarction, peripheral arterial disease and stroke in veterans compared with non-veterans, overall and by sex and birth cohort.ResultsA first episode of CVD was recorded in 5.7% of veterans and 4.8% of non-veterans overall, Cox proportional HR 1.16, 95% CIs 1.12 to 1.20, p=0.001. The difference was only significant for men, and for veterans born before 1960, and was highest in veterans with the shortest service. In all categories, the difference in risk was less than at the end of 2012.ConclusionsThe excess burden of CVD in veterans which was evident at the end of 2012 has reduced in the following 5 years from 23% to 16% overall. The increased risk continues to affect only those veterans born prior to 1960, suggesting that improvements in military health promotion since 1978, when veterans born from 1960 joined the armed forces, have had an important and ongoing beneficial effect on the long-term health of veterans.

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