Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 28, 2026

Real-Time Electrocardiogram Monitoring During Treadmill Training in Mice
Published on: May 5, 2022
Cardiological Disorders Leading to Ineligibility for Compulsory Military Service
Tautvydas Ribinskas1, Tautvydas Rugelis2, Eglė Labanauskaitė2,3
1Faculty of Medicine, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, 44307 Kaunas, Lithuania.
Insights
Cardiovascular diseases significantly impact military service eligibility in Lithuania. Hypertension and severe heart conditions were the primary reasons for ineligibility, while rhythm disorders were more compatible with service.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Public Health
- Military Medicine
Background:
- Cardiovascular disorders are a major cause of medical ineligibility for compulsory military service.
- Understanding these patterns is crucial for Lithuania's military recruitment and public health strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze cardiovascular disease patterns in conscription-age individuals.
- To assess the association between cardiovascular conditions and military service eligibility.
- To identify common cardiovascular causes of medical ineligibility.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective hospital-based study of 521 individuals aged 18-26 with cardiovascular diagnoses.
- Data analyzed from anonymized medical records at a tertiary care center.
- Participants categorized into military service eligibility classes based on ICD-10 codes and medical history.
Main Results:
- No significant impact of gender or place of residence on military service eligibility.
- Eligibility for military service decreased with increasing age.
- Essential hypertension and hypertensive heart disease were most common in males; paroxysmal tachycardia and arrhythmias in females.
- Hypertension and severe cardiovascular conditions significantly reduced eligibility; rhythm disorders were more compatible with service.
Conclusions:
- Gender and residence do not significantly affect military service eligibility for individuals with cardiovascular disease.
- Increasing age is associated with decreased eligibility.
- Hypertension-related cardiovascular disorders are the leading cause of ineligibility for compulsory military service among conscripts.
Abstract:
Background and Objectives: Cardiovascular disorders contribute substantially to medical ineligibility for compulsory military service in Lithuania. This study aimed to describe cardiovascular disease patterns and assess their association with military service eligibility among conscription-age individuals treated at a tertiary care center, considering gender, place of residence, age, and the most common cardiovascular causes of medical ineligibility. Materials and Methods: This retrospective hospital-based study included men and women aged 18-26 years with cardiovascular disease diagnoses defined according to ICD-10 codes specified by the Order of the Minister of National Defense of the Republic of Lithuania. Anonymized medical records from the Hospital of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Kaunas Clinics were reviewed. Participants were categorized into four military service eligibility classes based on medical history data and were stratified by gender, age, and place of residence. Results: The study included 521 participants (56.6% male, 43.4% female). Gender and residence showed no significant impact on military service eligibility. Younger individuals, particularly those aged 18-19, were more often deemed eligible, while eligibility declined with age. Males more commonly had essential hypertension and hypertensive heart disease, whereas females more frequently presented with paroxysmal tachycardia and other arrhythmias. Hypertension and other severe cardiovascular conditions most strongly reduced eligibility for compulsory military service, whereas rhythm disorders were more often compatible with service. Conclusions: In this hospital-based cohort of conscription-age individuals with cardiovascular disease, gender and place of residence did not significantly influence eligibility for military service. Eligibility declined with increasing age, and hypertension-related cardiovascular disorders were the leading cause of ineligibility among conscripts.
Related Concept Videos
Cardiomyopathy I: Introduction and Classification
Imbalances in Cardiac Output
CHF can occur due to the failure of either side of the heart. Left-side failure leads to pulmonary congestion—the right side continues to send blood...
Cardiomyopathy II: Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy IV: Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy III: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Cardiovascular Drugs: Classification based on Therapeutic Indications
