| | Outcome | Study design/number of studies | Findings and direction | Overall strength of evidence |
| | Cardiovascular mortality | | -CTI | Cohort 2, x-sectional 0 | 2 Positive 0 Negative | Moderate ROB; low SOE | | -Combat only | Cohort 4, x-sectional 0 | 3 Neutral; 1 Negative (lower risk in combat vs control) | Moderate ROB; insufficient SOE |
| | CHD mortality | | -CTI | Cohort 2, x-sectional 0 | 2 Positive | Moderate ROB; low SOE | | -Combat only | Cohort 1, x-sectional 0 | 1 Negative (lower risk in combat vs control) | Moderate ROB; insufficient SOE |
| | CHD/myocardial infarction | | -CTI | Cohort 1, x-sectional 3 | 2 Positive; 2 Neutral | High ROB, Insufficient SOE | | -Combat only | Cohort 2, x-sectional 4 | 3 Positive: 3 Neutral | High ROB, Insufficient SOE |
| | Stroke | | -CTI | Cohort 1, x-sectional 1 | 2 Neutral | High ROB, Insufficient SOE | | -Combat only | Cohort 1, x-sectional 4 | 3 Positive and 2 Neutral | High ROB, Insufficient SOE |
| | Aortic aneurysm | | -Combat only | Cohort 0, x sectional 2 | 2 Positive | High ROB, Insufficient SOE | | -CTI | Cohort 0, x-sectional 0 | No studies | Insufficient |
| | Carotid intimal thickness (CIMT) | | -CTI | Cohort 0, x-sectional 0 | No studies | Insufficient | | -Combat only | Cohort 1, x-sectional 0 | 1 x Positive; No blinding; No difference in carotid plaque | Moderate ROB, Insufficient SOE |
| | Diabetes mellitus | | -CTI | Cohort 2, x-sectional 6 | 4 Positive 4 Neutral | High ROB, Insufficient SOE | | -Combat only | Cohort 2, x-sectional 5 | 2 Positive, 3 Neutral, 2 Negative | High ROB, Insufficient: high ROB |
| | Hypertension | | -CTI | Cohort 1, x-sectional 9 | 5 Positive; 5 Neutral | High ROB, Insufficient SOE | | -Combat only | Cohort 3, x-sectional: 6 | 4 Positive, 4 Neutral, 1 Negative | High ROB, Insufficient SOE |
| | Metabolic syndrome | x-sectional: 1 | CTI: 1 x Neutral | CTI: Insufficient | | -CTI | Cohort 0, x-sectional 1 | 1 Positive | Very high ROB, Insufficient | | -Combat only | No studies | | Insufficient |
| | Hyperlipidaemia | | -CTI | Cohort 2, x-sectional 6 | 2 Positive, 6 Neutral (variable or unreported case definition) | High ROB, insufficient SOE | | -Combat only | Cohort 1, x-sectional 2 | 1 Positive, 2 Neutral | High ROB, insufficient SOE |
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CTI, combat related traumatic injury; CHD, coronary heart disease; SOE, strength of evidence; ROB, risk of bias; RR relative risk; OR, odds ratio; Negative studies refer to significantly lower risk of outcome vs control in active group.
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