Military battlefield trauma Injury, Occupational Diseases, Poisoning Long-term outcomes of physical battlefield trauma casualties, in comparison to a 'non-exposed' group, will examine differential rates of: - cardiovascular risk and disease - osteoarthritis and loss of bone density - mental health outcomes - quality of life outcomes - occupational outcomes
Conditions
Interventions
Current interventions as of 08/04/2025:
UK Armed Services personnel will be recruited (equal numbers of 'exposed' and 'controls', frequency matched for age, sex, service, rank, deployment and combat r
Baker, O'Neill et al, 1974)
5. All subsequent trauma, requiring hospital admission, subsequent to commencing the study.
6. Past medical history
7. Smoking history
8. Drug History – prescribed and rec
Sponsors
Defence Medical Services, MoD
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
Male
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: Exposed Group: 1. UK Armed services personnel 2. Male 3. Sustained physical battlefield trauma, while on deployment in Operation Herrick (Afghanistan), requiring aeromedical evacuation and direct UK hospital admission 4. Injured during 2003 or after Non-Exposed Group: 1. UK Armed services personnel 2. Male 3. Previously deployed 4. No battlefield trauma, as defined in the inclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: 1. Unwilling or unable to give informed consent 2. Established CVD (previous stroke or transient ischaemic attack [TIA], ischaemic heart disease [IHD], peripheral vascular disease) 3. Past medical history of diabetes 4. Past medical history of renal or liver disease 5. Aged 50 years 6. Active acute infection with systemic features of sepsis, at the time of first visit, as defined below. Potential participant with active acute infection will be considered for recruitment once the acute illness is treated and resolved 7. Two of three of: 7.1. Temperature >38ºC or 90 beats/min 7.3. Respiratory rate >20 breaths/min
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| 1. Cardiovascular risk - as determined by pulse wave velocity at 20 years 2. Major Adverse Cardiovascular Endpoint (MACE) - Composite Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) endpoint of cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, stroke, transient ischaemic attack (TIA), arterial revascularization (coronary artery bypass grafting, percutaneous coronary intervention, carotid endarterectomy or stenting and peripheral arterial stenting or bypass) at 20 years 3. Osteoarthritis of the hip and knee - as determined by patient-reported outcomes and radiographic assessment at 20 years | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Updated 08/04/2025: Measured at baseline and at regular intervals after for 20 years (previously at baseline, and after 3, 5, 10, 15 and 20 years): 1. Cardiovascular risk as determined by more traditional cardiovascular risk factors (e.g., blood pressure and diagnosis of hypertension, lipid profile, blood glucose/diabetes mellitus, smoking history, hsCRP and abdominal waist circumference) 2. Cardiovascular disease as determined by individual components of the primary composite CVD score and peripheral vascular disease and other CAD (angina). 3. Musculoskeletal disease (osteoarthritis and osteoporosis), 4. All-cause mortality 5. Pain - back and stump/phantom (if applicable) 6. Mental health 7. Psychosocial/QoL/occupational/other outcomes 8. Functional status | — |
Countries
England, United Kingdom
Contacts
Public ContactEleanor Miller
Outcome results
None listed