Abstract 284: Association of Veteran Status with Hypertension Prevalence in Women

Abstract

Background: The high prevalence of hypertension in the US adult population represents a serious public health challenge. High hypertension rates result in substantial cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and in elevated health care expenditures. A better understanding of risk factors for development of hypertension in adults may contribute to hypertension prevention efforts. Currently, it is unclear whether veteran status is associated with hypertension risk in women. The goal of this project was to assess the association between veteran status and risk of developing hypertension in women. Methods: The Integrated Health Interview Series (IHIS) is a harmonized dataset for the U.S. National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Using the IHIS 1997-2010 dataset, population-based prevalence of hypertension among female veterans was compared to non-veterans. For the purpose of analysis, only Whites and African Americans were included in the sample dataset. Veterans were participants who answered ‘Yes’ to the question, “Have you ever been honorably discharged from active duty in the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Crops, or Coast Guard?” Diagnose of hypertension was self-reported. Regression models were performed to evaluate the association between veteran status and the risk of hypertension. Socio-demographic factors and health behaviors were accounted for in the analysis. Sampling weights that adjust for the complex design of the IHIS were applied to all analyses presented. Statistical analyses were performed using SAS version 9.0. Results: Veteran African American women aged 18-40 years of age had a hypertension prevalence rate of 14.8% while non-veterans had a prevalence rate of 14.2%. In White women the prevalence of hypertension was 8.7% among veterans and 7.9% in non-veteran civilians. Hypertension prevalence in African American women older than 40 was 39.1% among veterans and 56.4% in non-veterans (p<0.0001). In White women of the same age-group the prevalence of hypertension was 37.7% among veterans and 39.6% in non-veteran civilians (p<0.005). After adjusting for age, marital status, poverty level, Body Mass Index (BMI), education, smoking, alcohol drinking, and exercise, African American veterans were 24% less likely to have hypertension than non-veteran civilians with statistical significance (OR 0.76, CI 0.6-0.9). There was a 2% risk reduction for hypertension for White veterans but without statistical significance. Conclusion: The prevalence of hypertension was significantly lower in female veterans than in non-veteran females. African American female veterans were 24% less likely to have hypertension than non-veteran African American females, and this association remained significant after adjusting for socio-demographic and health behavior factors.