Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 10, 2025

Inverse Probability of Treatment Weighting Propensity Score using the Military Health System Data Repository and National Death Index
Published on: January 8, 2020
Causes of Death of Transgender and Gender Diverse Veterans
Emmett R Henderson1, Taylor L Boyer2, Hill L Wolfe3
1Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.
Introduction:
Transgender and gender diverse (TGD) veterans face numerous challenges due to stigma and marginalization, which have a significant impact on their health and well-being. However, there is insufficient data on cause-specific mortality in TGD veteran populations in the U.S. The purpose of this study was to describe the leading causes of death in a sample of TGD veterans who received care from the Veterans Health Administration.
Methods:
A secondary data analysis was conducted using Veterans Health Administration electronic health record data matched with death certificate records from the National Death Index from October 1, 1999 to December 31, 2019. Using record axis codes from National Death Index data, the 25 most frequent underlying and all causes of death were summarized.
Results:
Deaths occurred in 1,415 TGD veterans. Ranking by any mention on the death certificate, mental and behavioral disorders due to psychoactive substance use (17.2%), conduction disorders and cardiac dysrhythmias (15.3%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (15.1%), diabetes mellitus (13.9%), and chronic ischemic heart disease (13.3%) were the top five causes of death. Three distinct methods of suicide appeared as the 7th (firearms), 17th (self-poisoning), and 24th (hanging) underlying causes of death for TGD veterans.
Conclusions:
Targeted prevention efforts or interventions to reduce the frequency and severity of causes of death, particularly mental and behavioral health disorders and metabolic disorders, could prevent premature mortality among TGD adults.
Related Concept Videos
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Symptoms and Behavioral Manifestations
A spectrum of distressing symptoms characterizes PTSD. Recurrent flashbacks, where individuals involuntarily relive traumatic events,...
Disorders of the Female Reproductive System
Pulmonary Tuberculosis I
Causative Organism
The primary infectious agent causing tuberculosis is Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a slow-growing, acid-fast, aerobic rod that exhibits sensitivity to heat and ultraviolet light. Instances of Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium avium contributing to the development of TB infection are rare.
Mode of...
Dissociative Identity Disorder
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Kubler Ross's Stages of Dying
In denial, individuals reject the reality of their condition, often thinking, "This isn't true; I feel fine," as a way to protect themselves from...

