The findings could help inform international health policy in the prevention of heart disease in politically unstable countries where conflict is taking place, or likely to occur, researchers said.
Living in a war zone is associated with an increased risk of heart attack and stroke among civilians, even years after the conflict ends, according to a study.
Published in the journal Heart, the study analysed data from a number of studies on associations between armed conflict and the health of civilian adults in low- and middle-income countries – including Syria, Lebanon, Bosnia, Croatia, Palestine, Colombia and Sudan.
The researchers at Imperial College London and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine in the UK found that conflicts were associated with a litany of negative health outcomes for civilians.
These included increased risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes, increased blood pressure and cholesterol, as well as increased alcohol and tobacco use, they said.
Beyond the immediate impacts of conflict, such as blast injuries, infectious diseases or malnutrition, the researchers cite longer-lasting health risks for civilians which may be due to multiple factors, including disruptions to healthcare services, putting them at greater risk of heart disease in the medium to long term.
The findings could help inform international health policy in the prevention of heart disease in politically unstable countries where conflict is taking place, or likely to occur, researchers said.
The researchers offer recommendations, including prioritising primary healthcare during and after conflicts and training healthcare professionals to focus on both the cheapest and effective ways to prevent heart disease.
These include prescribing generic medicines instead of branded ones and helping people to quit smoking, researchers said.
Global News 
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