A nationwide assessment of asthma-mental health nexus among veterans

Abstract

Objective: In this study, we evaluated the association between both current and lifetime asthma to that of mental illness among veterans in the USA. Methods: We utilized the 2005–2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health data, a national population-based survey in the USA. Mental illness was defined as past year major depressive episode and doctor diagnosis of depression. Survey-weighted univariate and multivariable regression analyses were utilized. A total of 20 581 veterans were included in the study. Results: A 4.00% and 7.50% prevalence of current and lifetime asthma were noted among veterans, respectively. A significantly higher prevalence of major depressive episode was noted among veterans with current asthma (8.23%), as compared to those without (4.68%), with a similar trend noted among those with lifetime asthma versus those without (7.84% vs. 4.58%). Doctor diagnosis of depression among veterans was higher among those with current asthma (11.83% vs. 5.86%) and lifetime asthma (10.32% vs. 5.76%), as compared to those without asthma. Upon adjusting for confounders, current asthma was significantly associated with past year major depressive episode [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.65) and depression diagnosis (aOR = 1.88). Similarly, veterans with lifetime asthma, as compared to those without, had higher odds of past year major depressive episode (aOR = 1.56) and depression diagnosis (aOR = 1.66). Conclusion: The asthma/mental health nexus is significant among the US veterans. Such results warrant the need for integrated care to address mental health burden among veterans with asthma.