Indirect Health Consequences of War: Cardiovascular Disease Mortality

Daniel H. Poole, University of Utah

This study examines the effect of armed conflict on adult male and female cardiovascular disease mortality. This is an indirect health consequence of war which has not been given enough attention in social science research. The depletion of resources, access to health care, and general disruption to every day life during times of war create excess stress and burdens which increase deaths caused by cardiovascular disease. I use a variety of data to measure demographic, developmental, and conflict related outcomes. I find that all types of armed conflict increase the cardiovascular disease mortality rates among both females and males across countries and over time.