Military expenditure and Ischaemic heart disease mortality

Abstract

Determinants of ischaemic heart disease (IHD) mortality among the population aged 40–69 years in 15 developed countries were studied. In regression analysis, after controlling for gross domestic product (adjusted to diminish differences in purchasing power), alcohol, animal fat and tobacco consumption, and numbers of medical doctors, nurses and hospital beds, the mortality from IHD was marginally positively associated with national per caput military expenditure among both males (p = 0.08) and females (p = 0.07). The interpretation of this finding is discussed.

Key Words:

• Ischaemic heart disease
• Military expenditures