Key result
Male Veterans with VA coverage had a higher number of chronic conditions compared with non-Veterans (mean difference 0.36; 95% CI 0.25-0.46), a finding that persisted across all age groups.
Why the study?
It was unknown whether Veteran and VA coverage status continue to be associated with chronic disease burden or how these associations vary by age, particularly among younger Veterans.
Is Veteran status and VA coverage associated with a higher burden of chronic conditions compared to non-Veterans?
Cross-Sectional (n=11,544)
Is Veteran status and VA coverage associated with a higher burden of chronic conditions compared to non-Veterans?
Male US Veterans, particularly those with VA coverage, have a significantly higher burden of chronic conditions across all age groups compared to non-Veterans.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
May warrant enhanced comorbidity screening in Veterans; leaves open causal pathways and VA coverage effects.
BACKGROUND: Historically, US Veterans have reported higher chronic disease burden than non-Veterans. However, whether Veteran and Veterans Affairs (VA) coverage status continue to be associated with chronic disease burden or how these associations vary by age, especially among younger Veterans, is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To examine the number of chronic conditions among male Veterans with and without VA coverage, and male non-Veterans, overall and by age group. DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: Using 2018 National Health Interview Survey data, our sample included 2301 male Veterans and 9243 male non-Veterans. MAIN MEASURES: The primary outcome was a number of chronic conditions, measured as a count (range 0-15) and categorically (0, 1, 2, 3+). We created a 3-category main independent variable (Veteran with VA coverage, Veteran without VA coverage, non-Veteran). Generalized linear regression models were used to estimate relationships between Veteran and VA coverage status and count of chronic conditions, overall and by age group (18-44, 45-64, 65+), adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics. KEY RESULTS: Veterans with VA coverage, Veterans without VA coverage, and non-Veterans had an age-standardized mean of 1.44, 1.16, and 1.09 chronic conditions, respectively. In adjusted analyses, Veterans with VA coverage had 0.36 (95% CI: 0.25-0.46) more conditions and Veterans without VA coverage had 0.12 (95% CI: 0.04-0.21) more conditions compared with non-Veterans. In age-stratified analyses, Veterans with VA coverage aged 18-44 had 0.22 (95% CI: 0.06-0.38) more conditions; 45-64, 0.71 (95% CI: 0.41-0.99) more conditions; and 65+, 0.38 (95% CI: 0.18-0.57) more conditions compared with similar-aged non-Veterans. CONCLUSIONS: Veterans with VA coverage had the greatest number of chronic conditions, including when stratified by age group.
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Chawla et al. (2025) conducted a cross-sectional in Chronic conditions (n=11,544). Veteran status with VA coverage vs. Non-Veterans was evaluated on Number of chronic conditions (MD 0.36, 95% CI 0.25-0.46). Male Veterans with VA coverage had a higher number of chronic conditions compared with non-Veterans (mean difference 0.36; 95% CI 0.25-0.46), a finding that persisted across all age groups.
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