Cardiovascular and bone health of former elite infantry soldiers at middle life.

Yael Milgrom,Charles Milgrom,Victor Novak,David Lavi,Naama Constantini,Aharon S Finestone

doi:10.1186/2054-314x-1-3

Abstract

BackgroundThe long term implications of elite infantry service on cardiovascular health and cortical bone width at middle age has not been studied. The purpose of this study was to compare the cardiovascular health and cortical bone thickness of former elite infantry soldiers at middle life with a sedentary population of religious scholars using seven factors associated with cardiovascular risk and QCT tibial cross sections 8 cm above the ankle joint.ResultsTorah scholars had a higher 5 year risk for a fatal or non fatal cardiovascular event (p = 0.008) than former elite infantry soldiers. The former elite infantry soldiers had wider tibia cortices than Torah scholar (p = 0.003).ConclusionsThis study shows that former elite infantry soldiers who performed strenuous physical activity during their military service and continued physical activity in their subsequent life, had stronger tibias based on increased cortical width and a modest decrease in cardiovascular risk at middle life compared to sedentary Torah scholars.

Highlights

The long term implications of elite infantry service on cardiovascular health and cortical bone width at middle age has not been studied
The American Heart Association recommends that the general population meet seven metrics to improve cardiovascular health: not smoking, be physically active, have normal blood pressure, glucose, total cholesterol values, and weight and eat a healthy diet [2]
Soldiers were taller and had lower resting pulses and abdominal girths Sixteen percent of soldiers and 45% of Torah scholars had abdominal girths measured at the umbilicus greater than 102 cm (p = 0.03)

Summary

Introduction

The long term implications of elite infantry service on cardiovascular health and cortical bone width at middle age has not been studied. The purpose of this study was to compare the cardiovascular health and cortical bone thickness of former elite infantry soldiers at middle life with a sedentary population of religious scholars using seven factors associated with cardiovascular risk and QCT tibial cross sections 8 cm above the ankle joint. Within the population of combat soldiers, special forces soldiers undergo the most demanding physical training and physical duties during their military service. Their activity is well beyond the exercise recommendations of the American Surgeon General [1] for maintenance of cardiovascular heath.

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion