Graphic available here

The Scottish Veterans Health Research Group at the University of Glasgow compared data from the University’s ‘Trends in Scottish Veterans’ Health’ study cohort of veterans and non-veterans, with data from NHS Scotland  on COVID-19 for the same group.  The analysis showed that veterans were not significantly more likely to be impacted with COVID-19 than non-veterans. Though the proportion of those hospitalised was very slightly higher in veterans than non-veterans, this difference was not significant, with deaths from COVID-19 matching the same proportion amongst the veteran and non-veteran populations.

Though there were some differences in specific age groups, the overall data showed no increased likelihood amongst veterans or non-veterans of hospitalisation with COVID-19.

For service providers, this means that they should be able to continue to use data from the wider population in planning support for veterans in the event of future pandemics.

A full analysis was published in the BMJ British Military Health as part of a Forces in Mind Trust funded project with the University of Glasgow.