No. 133 June 2002
Health Conditions and Behaviors Among North Carolina
and United States Military Veterans Compared to Non- Veterans
by
Ziya Gizlice, Ph. D.
ABSTRACT
Objectives: Military veterans constitute approximately 30 percent of the adult male population in North
Carolina and nationwide, yet little is known about the health of veterans. The objective of this study is to
describe selected health conditions and behaviors of discharged male veterans compared to male non-veterans
in North Carolina and the United States.
Methods: Survey data from the 2000 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System ( BRFSS) were used
for this study. Veterans were identified as adults who had served on active duty in the United States Armed
Forces, either in the regular military or in a National Guard or military reserve unit, but who were no
longer in military service. Chronic conditions, risk factors, preventive health services, access to health
care, and self- perceived health status were compared between veterans and non- veterans. Age- adjusted
rates and odd ratios adjusted for age, race, household income, and education were calculated for each
risk category using the SUDAAN software.
Results: Age- adjusted rates of arthritis and disability were significantly higher for veterans than for non-veterans
in North Carolina. The prevalence of arthritis was also significantly higher for United States
veterans than non- veterans, even after adjusting for age, race, education, and household income ( adjusted
odds ratio = 1.38 for North Carolina and 1.27 for the United States). The odds of being a current or former
smoker was significantly higher for both United States and North Carolina veterans compared to non-veterans,
after controlling for age, race, education, and household income ( adjusted odds ratio for cur-rent
smoking = 1.40 for North Carolina and 1.55 for the United States). Veterans in both North Carolina
and the United States reported more poor mental health days than non- veterans.
Conclusions: Veterans were more likely to smoke and reported more poor mental health days than non-veterans.
The prevalence of disability was significantly higher among veterans than among non- veterans
in North Carolina. An examination of the time of onset of disability revealed that males with a disability
almost never enroll in the military, suggesting that military service may be a risk factor for disability.
Arthritis prevalence among discharged male veterans was significantly higher for both North Carolina
and the United States. The strong association between being a discharged veteran and having arthritis
merits further investigation.
SCHS Studies
NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
A Special Report Series by the State Center for Health Statistics
1908 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, N. C. 27699- 1908
North Carolina Public Health www. schs. state. nc. us/ SCHS/