Investigating Medical & Psychosocial Outcomes of UK Combat Casualties from the Afghanistan War
Last month whilst talking at BAsem 2024, Professor Alex Bennett discussed the background of ADVANCE and
emphasised the importance of looking into the long-term outcomes, both medically and psychosocially of combat
casualties from the Afghanistan war. Professor Bennett highlighted cardiovascular risk and disease and metabolic
diseases such as diabetes and obesity alongside bone health, pain, mental health, functional outcomes, relationships and
alcohol and drug use and abuse..
The hypothesis of our study is that combat trauma casualties will have an increased incidence of adverse medical,
psychosocial and vocational long-term outcomes compared with equivalent but non-injured service personnel. Study
progress has been steady, and we have now completed baseline and follow-up 1 with over half of our follow-up 2
participants already seen.

Group Captain Professor Alex Bennett
ADVANCE Board Member
Above-knee amputees have significant Osteoporosis in the hip on the amputated side. Our team are looking at interventions to try and improve or prevent this with physical interventions, starting with a feasibility study.
Proteomics (the study of proteins, including their structure, function, and interactions) indicate that those who were injured had higher cardiovascular risk and increased premature ageing.