Chronic Condition Burden by Veteran Status, Veterans Health Administration Enrollment, and Age Using Nationally Representative Survey Data

Bibliographic Data

ID9103508
AuthorsNeetu Chawla (0000-0003-3486-2023, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, corresponding author), Diana J Govier (0000-0002-3643-3540, Center to Improve Veteran Involvement in Care (CIVIC), VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR), Claire Than (VHA National Oncology Program, Specialty Care Services, Washington, DC), Claire T Than (0000-0002-2572-772X, Office of Patient Care Services), Danielle E Rose (0000-0001-6797-2611, Center for the Study of Healthcare Provider Behavior, corresponding author), Danielle Rose (VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System), Denise M Hynes (0000-0002-6436-7157, Oregon State University), Katherine J Hoggatt (0000-0002-9431-5438, San Francisco VA Health Care System, San Francisco, CA, corresponding author), Elizabeth M Yano (0000-0002-9385-0025, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, corresponding author)
Year2025
Volume63
Issue7
Pages507-513
Publication date2025-07-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueMedical Care (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0025-7079 • E-ISSN: 1537-1948
PublisherOvid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1097/mlr.0000000000002159
PMID40766989
OpenAlexW4410551452
LanguageEN
References cited24

BACKGROUND: Historically, US Veterans have reported higher chronic disease burden than non-Veterans. However, whether Veteran and Veterans Affairs (VA) coverage status continue to be associated with chronic disease burden or how these associations vary by age, especially among younger Veterans, is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To examine the number of chronic conditions among male Veterans with and without VA coverage, and male non-Veterans, overall and by age group. DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: Using 2018 National Health Interview Survey data, our sample included 2301 male Veterans and 9243 male non-Veterans. MAIN MEASURES: The primary outcome was a number of chronic conditions, measured as a count (range 0-15) and categorically (0, 1, 2, 3+). We created a 3-category main independent variable (Veteran with VA coverage, Veteran without VA coverage, non-Veteran). Generalized linear regression models were used to estimate relationships between Veteran and VA coverage status and count of chronic conditions, overall and by age group (18-44, 45-64, 65+), adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics. KEY RESULTS: Veterans with VA coverage, Veterans without VA coverage, and non-Veterans had an age-standardized mean of 1.44, 1.16, and 1.09 chronic conditions, respectively. In adjusted analyses, Veterans with VA coverage had 0.36 (95% CI: 0.25-0.46) more conditions and Veterans without VA coverage had 0.12 (95% CI: 0.04-0.21) more conditions compared with non-Veterans. In age-stratified analyses, Veterans with VA coverage aged 18-44 had 0.22 (95% CI: 0.06-0.38) more conditions; 45-64, 0.71 (95% CI: 0.41-0.99) more conditions; and 65+, 0.38 (95% CI: 0.18-0.57) more conditions compared with similar-aged non-Veterans. CONCLUSIONS: Veterans with VA coverage had the greatest number of chronic conditions, including when stratified by age group

Administration (probate law) · Chronic disease · Environmental health · Family medicine · Multiple Chronic Conditions · Political science · Acute Myocardial Infarction Research · Cardiovascular Health and Risk Factors · Medicine · Primary Care and Health Outcomes · Gerontology