Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors Among Women Veterans at VA Medical Facilities

Varsha G Vimalananda,Patricia Tremblay,Donald R Miller,Cindy L Christiansen,Wenyu Wang,B Graeme Fincke

doi:10.1007/s11606-013-2381-9

Abstract

ABSTRACTBACKGROUNDHypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and obesity in middle adulthood each elevate the long-term risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The prevalence of these conditions among women veterans is incompletely described.OBJECTIVETo describe the prevalence of CVD risk factors among women veterans in middle adulthood.DESIGNSerial cross-sectional studies of data from the Diabetes Epidemiologic Cohorts (DEpiC), a national, longitudinal data set including information on all patients in the Veterans Health Administration (VA).PARTICIPANTSWomen veterans (n = 255,891) and men veterans (n = 2,271,605) aged 35–64 receiving VA care in fiscal year (FY) 2010.MAIN MEASURESPrevalence of CVD risk factors in FY2010 by age and, for those aged 45–54 years, by race, region, period of military service, priority status, and mental illness or substance abuse; prevalence by year from 2000 to 2010 in women veterans receiving VA care in both 2000 and 2010 who were free of the factor in 2000.KEY RESULTSHypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes were common among women and men, although more so among men. Hypertension was present in 13 % of women aged 35–44 years, 28 % of women aged 45–54, and 42 % of women aged 55–64. Hyperlipidemia prevalence was similar. Diabetes affected 4 % of women aged 35–44, and increased more than four-fold in prevalence to 18 % by age 55–64. The prevalence of obesity increased from 14 % to 18 % with age among women and was similarly prevalent in men. The relative rate of having two or more CVD risk factors in women compared to men increased progressively with age, from 0.55 (35–44 years) to 0.71 (45–54) to 0.73 (55–64). Most of the women with a factor present in 2010 were first diagnosed with the condition in the 10 years between 2000 and 2010.CONCLUSIONSCVD risk factors are common among women veterans aged 35–64. Future research should investigate which interventions would most effectively reduce risk in this population.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s11606-013-2381-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Highlights

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death among women and men in the United States.[1]The presence of even one major cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor at age years substantially raises the lifetime risk of CVD, and is associated with lower survival in the general population.[2]
CVD risk factors are common among women veterans aged [35–64]
Previous studies indicate a high prevalence of CVD risk factors among adult women in the general population

Summary

Introduction

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death among women and men in the United States.[1]The presence of even one major CVD risk factor at age years substantially raises the lifetime risk of CVD, and is associated with lower survival in the general population.[2]. Women represent a growing segment of the veteran population that has not been fully characterized with respect to CVD risk.[7,8] As compared to men, women veterans carry a similar burden of overall physical and mental health conditions, but are of lower mean age and have less social support.[9] Previous studies indicate a high prevalence of CVD risk factors among adult women in the general population (hypertension, 29 %;10 hyperlipidemia, 42 %;11 diabetes, 8 %;12 and obesity, 36 %13). Hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and obesity in middle adulthood each elevate the long-term risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The prevalence of these conditions among women veterans is incompletely described

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Discussion

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