Chapter 3 - Health
                                         
Table 3.1 Deaths in the UK Regular Armed Forces: by year of occurrence and Service, numbers, age                      and gender standardised rates1 and Standardised Mortality Ratios2, 1999-2008
In 2003 and 2004 there were increases in the number of deaths in the Naval Service due to 3 helicopter incidents involving multiple deaths during operations in the Middle East. Operational fatalities amongst Royal Marines account for the increase in the Naval Service mortality rate in 2008. There were four incidents in 2008 involving multiple deaths of Marines and a further seven Royal Marines died in separate incidents whilst on operations.

The increase in the number of deaths among Army personnel in 2006 and 2007 can be accounted for by an increase in the number of deaths due to Hostile Action (38 deaths in 2006 and 63 deaths in 2007). There was also an increase in the number of deaths due to accidents in 2007. In 2008 Army deaths decreased which was largely due to a reduction in both operational fatalities and land transport accidents.

In 2005 and 2006 there was an increase in the number of deaths in the RAF due to the loss of 9 RAF personnel in a Hercules crash in Iraq in January 2005 and the loss of 12 RAF personnel in a Nimrod crash in Afghanistan in September 2006.
Numbers of deaths
  1999 3 2000   2001   2002   2003 3 2004 3 2005 3 2006 3 2007 3 2008  
Total 142 r 147   142   147   177 r 170 r 160 r 191 r 204 r 137  
Naval Service 26   25   33   26   37   37   27   33   27   40  
Army 84 r 88   80   94   101 r 96 r 93 r 111 r 145 r 79  
RAF 32   34   29   27   39   37   40   47   32 r 18  




During the 10-year period 1999-2008, the overall Armed Forces age and gender standardised mortality rates fluctuated between a low of 66 per 100,000 in 1999 and a high of 105 per 100,000 in 2007.

Age and gender standardised rates per 100,000 strength1
  1999 3 2000   2001   2002   2003 3 2004 3 2005 3 2006 3 2007 3 2008  
Total 66   71   69   72   83 r 81 r 79 r 97 r 105   72  
Naval Service 60   63   80   67   90   91   69   85   69   108  
Army 74 r 79   71   83   83 r 78 r 83 r 95 r 129 r 72  
RAF 49   62   49   52   73   61   71   84   69 r 33  




For the UK Regular Armed Forces as a whole, the annual SMR was statistically significantly lower than the UK population, except in 2006 and 2007 when it was not significantly different from the UK population. In 2008 the UK Regular Armed Forces were at a 44% decreased risk of dying compared to the UK general population.

For the years 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2008 the Naval Service were not significantly different to the UK general population. For all other years the Naval Service were statistically significantly lower than the UK population. Operational incidents in 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2008 account for the higher SMR for the Naval Service in these years.

For the period 1999 to 2002 the Army annual SMR was statistically significantly lower than the UK general population. Between 2003 and 2005 the Army was not statistically different from the UK population. In 2006 and 2007 the Army was at significantly increased risk of dying compared to the UK population, however, in 2008 there was a 26% decreased risk of dying compared to the UK general population. These changes are explained by changes in the numbers of deaths due to Hostile Action (see above).

For the period 1999 to 2005 the RAF annual SMR was statistically significantly lower than the UK general population. In 2006 the RAF was not statistically different from the UK population. This is due to the loss of 12 RAF personnel in the Nimrod crash. In 2007 and 2008 the RAF annual SMR was statistically significantly lower than the UK general population. In 2008 they were at a 68% decreased risk of dying compared to the UK general population.
Standardised mortality ratios1
  1999 3 2000   2001   2002   2003 3 2004 3 2005 3 2006 3 2007 3 2008  
Total 57   60   59   62   76   76   75   113   98   66  
Naval Service 50   49   67   54   79   82   62   94   62   92  
Army 69   74   67   80   87   86   88   133   135   74  
RAF 42   46   40   38   56   55   62   93   56   32  
Source: DASA (Health Information)
1. Rates have been age and gender standardised to the 2006 Armed Forces population and are expressed per 100,000 strength.
2. Standardised mortality ratios have been standardised for age, gender and calendar year.
3. Changes to data previously published in UKDS. 11 deaths on operations among non-regular members of the UK Regular Armed Forces have been included: 1
    in 1999, 4. in 2003, 1 in 2004, 1 in 2005, 1 in 2006 and 3 in 2007. 1 death in 2005 has been included which was previously recorded as Missing Believed
    Killed (MBK).

Deaths in the UK Regular Armed Forces: by year of occurrence and Service, age and gender standardised rates, 1999-2008