Veterans' Likelihood of Reporting Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the most common chronic health condition affecting Americans. One important group of Americans that health researchers have noted as key to understanding general population health and wellbeing are veterans of the US military. The healthy soldier effect has been used to explain the health benefits of military service during and for a period of time after service. The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of CVD in a national sample with specific attention paid to reported CVD across ages.

A total of 153,556 veteran and nonveteran respondents from the National Health Interview Survey were examined for the likelihood of reporting the type and number of cardiovascular conditions.

Veterans report higher rates of certain CVD conditions and report a higher number of CVD conditions than nonveterans. Veterans also reported higher numbers of CVD conditions at younger ages (ages 25 to 70 years) than nonveteran counterparts. At older ages (ages 70 to 85+ years), nonveterans reported higher numbers of CVD conditions than veterans.

Our findings are consistent with the studies that indicate a waning healthy soldier effect for young veterans potentially due to the unique circumstances of the current conflicts.