Health conditions and behaviors among North Carolina and United States military veterans compared to non-veterans

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 curr ent 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. NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES