Journal article

Long-term disability associated with war-related experience among Vietnam veterans

PM Clarke, R Gregory, JA Salomon

Medical Care | Published : 2015

Abstract

Background: Recent combat operations have involved large numbers of personnel. Long-term health effects of military deployment remain largely unknown. Objectives: To examine patterns and trends in long-term disability among combat veterans and to relate disability to aspects of wartime experience. Participants: A total of 60,228 Australian military personnel deployed between 1962 and 1975 during the Vietnam War, and 82,877 military personnel who were not deployed overseas. Outcome Measures: Accepted physician-assessed disability claims were evaluated over follow-up periods up to 50 years after deployment, and compared with age-matched controls. Multivariable analysis was used to examine diff..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Grants

Funding Acknowledgements

Supported by The Australian Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) provided funding and administrative data for the study. Under the terms of funding, the Commonwealth of Australia retains copyright on this work. The design, analysis and interpretation of the results were undertaken solely by the investigators. DVA approved the manuscript for publication after providing comments that clarified terminology and technical aspects of the study. However, the views expressed do not necessarily represent the views of the Minister for Veterans' Affairs or the Department of Veterans' Affairs. The Commonwealth does not give any warranty nor accept liability in relation to the contents of this work.