Objective Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is associated with significant productivity loss among all occupational groups. However, the increased occupational requirements of military personnel pose physical and psychological demands that could lead to greater lost productivity of CVD. The aim of this study was to determine the economic cost of lost productivity of military patients with CVD.

Methods A prospective cross-sectional study was undertaken on all military patients attending a specialist CVD clinic in Tehran, Iran. All participants were interviewed using face-to-face questioning using a Valuation of Lost Productivity questionnaire. Data captured included paid and unpaid time lost due to CVD, military job characteristics and their work environment. Ordered logistic regression was used to examine the determinants of lost productivity.

Results The mean time of lost productivity was 118 hours over a 3-month period, of which 70 and 48 hours were paid and unpaid work, respectively. The average cost per patient of total lost productivity was estimated to be US$303 over a 3-month period.

Conclusions CVDs are associated with significant lost productivity among military personnel. There is a statistically significant relation between some military occupation characteristics and lost productivity from CVD. Level of income, teamwork and physical activity have the greatest effects on lost productivity. Military workers who were suffering from other chronic conditions (in addition to CVD) were four times more likely to lose productivity. A supportive work environment should be created for military personnel with emphasis on developing teamwork, improving worker’s attitudes towards disease and giving priority to workers with comorbidities.