The first ADVANCE Study publication – describing in detail the ADVANCE Study protocol – was published in BMJ Open in September 2020 and can be found here.
ADVANCE is a lifetime cohort study investigating a wide range of outcomes relating to serious combat injury. What we find out from our ADVANCE participants will provide unique information that will be essential to the care of survivors of serious injuries, military or otherwise, across the globe.
The study has enrolled nearly 1,200 serving and discharged combat veterans, who are followed over their lifetime. Participation involves a baseline visit and at least five subsequent follow-up visits at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC) Stanford Hall, where the study is based.
The vast amounts of data collected from the study are analysed by our researchers at the National Heart and Lung Institute and the Centre for Blast Injury Studies at Imperial College London, and the King’s Centre for Military Health Research at King’s College London.
In our assessments we are currently looking at:
- Osteoarthritis of the hip and knee
- Cardiovascular risk and disease
- Pain and daily functioning
- Mental health and well-being, including post-traumatic growth
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Blood biomarkers (proteins and metabolites)
Baseline participant visits were completed in August 2020, and we have been analysing the baseline data ever since. The first follow-up visits were completed in August 2023.
ADVANCE baseline findings on cardiovascular risk, mental health outcomes, post-traumatic growth (PTG) and more have been published. See our Publications section for full details of all ADVANCE publications.
Some of the ADVANCE baseline research and findings are explained in the videos below. More videos can be found on the ADVANCE YouTube channel.