Factors Associated With Civilian Mortality in Australian Vietnam Veterans Three Decades After the War

A prospective cohort study of a random sample of 1,000 Australian army veterans analyzed risk factors for postwar mortality using information from Army records & personal interview assessments of physical & mental health measured approximately 15 years earlier. Up to December 2004, 117 members of the cohort had died, including 13 suicides which accounted for 11.1% of deaths. Mortality was associated principally with age, enlistment route, & conduct while in service in the whole cohort. Psychiatric status including a diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder was not associated with mortality. (49 refs.) JA