Key result
Soldiers assigned to combat or airborne units with higher psychological burden had a significantly lower prevalence of metabolic syndrome (10.2%) compared to soldiers in non-combat units (18.1%).
Why the study?
The study investigated whether mental stress from military assignment affects metabolic syndrome parameters as a cardiovascular risk factor.
Does the psychological burden of assignment to combat units increase the risk of metabolic syndrome in professional soldiers?
Cohort (n=30,265)
Does the psychological burden of assignment to combat units increase the risk of metabolic syndrome in professional soldiers?
Psychological stress associated with combat assignment did not augment metabolic syndrome manifestations in professional soldiers; rather, they had better cardiometabolic profiles than non-combat soldiers.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
High-burden combat assignments were associated with lower metabolic syndrome prevalence; hypothesis-generating and should not change practice.
The aim of the study is to investigate whether the mental stress resulting from the assignment of military professionals affects the parameters of metabolic syndrome (MetS) as a significant risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.The study retrospectively analyses the data obtained during extended annual preventive examinations of professional soldiers in 2012-2016.The dataset was divided into two cohorts.The first "performance" cohort included soldiers from combat units and paratroopers (aiborne).The second cohort consisted of "others", i.e. soldiers from non-combat units or airborne.The psychological burden was determined by the soldiers' assignment to a combat or airborne units.In the years 2012-2016, almost all compared parameters were better in the "performance" group.Exceptions were a higher prevalence of overweight (according to body mass index) and sporadically higher glycaemia and alanine aminotrasferase (ALT) levels.When comparing years 2012 and 2016 of the "performace" group, statistically significant better values prevailed in relation to the MetS in 2016.The exceptions were ALT and uric acid levels.The outcome of this study suggests a better status of MetS risk factors and MetS-related factors in the "performance" cohort, and psychological stress did not augment MetS manifestations in these professionals.This study has confirmed the necessity of waist circumference measurement to eliminate overestimation of obesity in individuals with developed musculature.To confirm the hepatic origin of ALT, the medical history should include an inquiry about exercise habits.Subsequently, the effect of chronic stress may also be considered for higher liver enzymes.Screening for hypercholesterolaemia and hyperuricaemia has important clinical relevance for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases in younger population, particularly in those aged <45 years. Krutisova et al.: Psychological burden and metabolic syndrome in professional soldiers IN PRESSThe gained knowledge could be used for a more thorough search for vulnerable individuals and the timely initiation of preventive measures, including improving psychological resilience and possible early displacement.
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Krutišová et al. (2023) conducted a cohort in Metabolic Syndrome (n=30,265). Assignment to combat or airborne units (psychological burden) vs. Assignment to non-combat units was evaluated on Prevalence of metabolic syndrome (p=<0.0001). Soldiers assigned to combat or airborne units with higher psychological burden had a significantly lower prevalence of metabolic syndrome (10.2%) compared to soldiers in non-combat units (18.1%).
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