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BACKGROUND/RATIONALE:
In response to recent attention to the high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in returning Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) veterans, there have been considerable efforts to characterize their mental health services needs. However, the general medical care needs of OEF/OIF veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have not been characterized.
OBJECTIVE(S):
The objectives of this project are to identify medical conditions associated with PTSD in women (and men) OEF/OIF returnees, stratified by age, and, among those with PTSD, identify medical conditions associated with war-zone exposure and military sexual trauma.
METHODS:
This rapid response project will capitalize on a database created for VA HSR&D IAE 05-291, which was drawn from existing data sources: VA's National Patient Care Database, VA's OEF/OIF Roster, and the MST Data Archive. For all members of the OEF/OIF roster who received VA outpatient care at least once during FY 2006 and once during FY 2007, we will use VA administrative records to identify those with PTSD and those with specific medical conditions (the latter derived using the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's Clinical Classifications Software framework, supplemented with expert clinical opinion). We will then examine the frequency of medical conditions (by age) among women and men with versus without PTSD, and examine additional associations between medical conditions and military exposures among those with PTSD.
FINDINGS/RESULTS:
Preliminary Findings:
A total of 90,356 (12,744 women, 77,612 men) OEF/OIF veterans with outpatient visits during FY 2006 and FY 2007 and confirmed veteran status were identified. Among these veterans 27% of the women and 35% of the men had a diagnosis of PTSD at least once during that time period. The most frequent medical conditions among women with PTSD were diseases of the musculoskeletal system, the neurologic and sense organs and the genitourinary system. Among men with PTSD the most frequent medical conditions were diseases of the musculoskeletal system, the neurologic and sense organs and the digestive system. All of these conditions were significantly more likely among veterans with PTSD as compared to those with no mental health conditions.
IMPACT:
OEF/OIF veterans with PTSD have significantly higher rates for a variety of medical conditions than their counterparts without mental health conditions. This relationship is true in both men and women although the pattern for specific conditions differs. In addition to assuring access to mental health services for returning veterans with PTSD, VHA's capacity-planning efforts need to account for the fact that significant medical resources will also be needed.
PUBLICATIONS:
None at this time.
DRA:
Mental Illness, Military and Environmental Exposures, Special (Underserved, High Risk) Populations
DRE:
Treatment, Diagnosis and Prognosis
Keywords:
PTSD, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom
MeSH Terms:
none
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