THE JOINT ASSOCIATION OF VETERAN AND POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER ON RISK OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES

Q: What data and population does the study use?

It uses pooled 2021–2023 National Wellbeing Survey data (N=17,257) and focuses on working-age adults.

Q: Which cardiovascular outcomes are examined?

The study examines high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and heart disease diagnosis by a health care professional.

Q: What do the results indicate about veteran and PTSD status?

Both veteran and PTSD statuses contribute to CVD risk, and their influences are sometimes synergistic across comparisons.

Sep 28, 2026

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Identifying subpopulations at elevated cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk is critical for prevention. Using pooled 2021–2023 National Wellbeing Survey data (N=17,257), the study evaluates how veteran status and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) jointly relate to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and clinician-diagnosed heart disease in working-age adults. Multivariable logistic regression shows elevated odds across outcomes for key veteran/PTSD groups, with evidence of synergistic influences in certain comparisons.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time5 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Study design and dataset

Outcomes and statistical approach

Key findings and interpretation

Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 187 Abstract citation ID: igaf122.627 THE JOINT ASSOCIATION OF VETERAN AND POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER ON RISK OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES Andrew London1, Jacob DeBlois2, and Kevin Heffernan3, 1. Syracuse University, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse, New York, United States, 2. University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island, United States, 3. Columbia University, Teachers College, New York, New York, United States 188 Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 Identifying subpopulations at elevated risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is important for preventive purposes. We use pooled data from the 2021-2023 National Wellbeing Survey (NWS) (N = 17,257) to examine the joint influence of veteran and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) statuses on high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and heart disease diagnosis by a health care professional among working-age adults. The NWS uniquely measures PTSD among veterans and non-veterans. In well-controlled multivariable logistic regression analyses, relative to non-veterans without PTSD (henceforth the reference group), the odds of high blood pressure are significantly higher among non-veterans (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=1.48, p<.001) and veterans with PTSD (AOR=1.63, p<.01), and post-hoc tests indicate that both of these groups also have significantly higher odds of high blood pressure than veterans without PTSD. For high cholesterol, the odds are significantly higher among non-veterans with PTSD (AOR=1.33, p<.001) and both veterans without (AOR=1.24, p<.05) and with PTSD (AOR=1.51, p<.01) relative to the reference group. For diabetes, both veterans without (AOR=1.36, p<.01) and with PTSD (1.72, p<.010) have higher odds relative to the reference group, and veterans with PTSD have significantly higher odds than non-veterans with PTSD. For heart disease, the odds are higher for non-veterans with PTSD (AOR=1.90, p<.001), and both veterans without (AOR=1.38, p<.05) and with PTSD (AOR=2.44, p<.001) relative to the reference group, and veterans with PTSD have significantly higher odds than veterans without PTSD. These results suggest that both veteran and PTSD statuses contribute to CVD risk, and that their influences are at times synergistic.

FAQs

What data and population does the study use?

It uses pooled 2021–2023 National Wellbeing Survey data (N=17,257) and focuses on working-age adults.

Which cardiovascular outcomes are examined?

The study examines high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and heart disease diagnosis by a health care professional.

What do the results indicate about veteran and PTSD status?

Both veteran and PTSD statuses contribute to CVD risk, and their influences are sometimes synergistic across comparisons.

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by Cart