Abstract
IntroductionAmong veterans, having been selected into the military and having easy access to medical care during and after military service may reduce premature mortality but not morbidity from mental distress and may not improve health-related quality of life. The objective of this study was to determine whether veterans in different racial/ethnic groups differ in their health-related quality of life from each other and from their civilian counterparts.MethodsAmong 800,000 respondents to the 2007–2009 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System surveys, approximately 110,000 identified themselves as veterans and answered questions about their sociodemographic characteristics, self-rated health, and recent health-related quality of life. Nonoverlapping 95% confidence intervals of means distinguished veterans and civilians of different racial/ethnic groups.ResultsVeteran and civilian American Indians/Alaska Natives reported more physically unhealthy days, mentally unhealthy days, and recent activity limitation days than their veteran and civilian counterparts in other racial/ethnic groups. Non-Hispanic white veterans and Hispanic veterans reported more physically unhealthy days, mentally unhealthy days, and recent activity limitation days than their civilian counterparts.ConclusionUnlike findings in other studies, our findings show that veterans’ health-related quality of life differs from that of civilians both within the same racial/ethnic group and among different racial/ethnic groups. Because once-healthy soldiers may not be as healthy when they return to civilian life, assessing their health-related quality of life over time may identify those who need help to regain their health.
Highlights
Among veterans, having been selected into the military and having easy access to medical care during and after military service may reduce premature mortality but not morbidity from mental distress and may not improve healthrelated quality of life
Unlike findings in other studies, our findings show that veterans’ health-related quality of life differs from that of civilians both within the same racial/ethnic group and among different racial/ethnic groups
Because once-healthy soldiers may not be as healthy when they return to civilian life, assessing their health-related quality of life over time may identify those who need help to regain their health
Summary
Among veterans, having been selected into the military and having easy access to medical care during and after military service may reduce premature mortality but not morbidity from mental distress and may not improve healthrelated quality of life. After being selected, completing basic training, and going off to their assignments, all soldiers have the common experience that they are generally healthier than those excluded from military service [2] Preliminary screening disqualifies those who are less physically and psychologically fit, remaining in the service requires meeting physical and psychological standards, and accessing medical care is easier during and after military service. This “healthy soldier” effect may reduce premature mortality among soldiers compared with their nonsoldier peers even after military service has ended. HRQOL in the general US population varies by sociodemographic characteristics including race/ethnicity, risky behaviors, reported chronic health conditions, activity limitation, and social support [9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19]
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