Post-deployment injury among new combat veterans enrolled in Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare

The purpose of this study was to examine prevalence and potential risk factors for post-deployment injury among Iraq and Afghanistan combat veterans enrolled in Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare. A national, stratified sample of Iraq/Afghanistan combat Veteran VA users was surveyed in 2008. Mental an...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Injury prevention 2011-10, Vol.17 (5), p.343-347
Main Authors: Carlson, Kathleen F, Gravely, Amy A, Noorbaloochi, Siamak, Simon, Alisha Baines, Bangerter, Ann K, Sayer, Nina A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Afghan Campaign 2001
Aged
Anger
behavioral
combat
depression
Ethnicity
Female
Gender
Health care
Health risks
Humans
Injuries
injury
Iraq War, 2003-2011
Logistic Models
Male
Mental Disorders - epidemiology
Middle Aged
Military deployment
occupational
Polls & surveys
Post traumatic stress disorder
posttraumatic stress disorder
Prevalence
psychological
public health
Regression analysis
Risk Factors
Self Report
United States - epidemiology
United States Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans
Veterans - statistics & numerical data
Wounds and Injuries - epidemiology
Young Adult
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Summary:The purpose of this study was to examine prevalence and potential risk factors for post-deployment injury among Iraq and Afghanistan combat veterans enrolled in Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare. A national, stratified sample of Iraq/Afghanistan combat Veteran VA users was surveyed in 2008. Mental and physical health, including medically-treated injuries sustained since deployment, were self-reported. Injury risk was estimated using survey logistic regression. Stratified ORs and 95% CIs were adjusted for potential confounders and non-response bias and weighted to represent the target population. Nearly half the population reported post-deployment injuries. In multivariate models, veterans with probable post-traumatic stress disorder (OR=2.1; 95% CI 1.3 to 3.5), self-reported diagnosed depression (OR=3.6; 95% CI 1.8 to 7.0) and anger problems (OR=2.4; 95% CI 1.4 to 4.2) had greater odds of post-deployment injury. Deployment-related injuries were also strongly associated with odds of post-deployment injury. Results suggest that mental health disorders increase the odds of post-deployment injury among combat veteran VA users. Longitudinal research examining these associations is warranted.
ISSN:1353-8047
1475-5785
DOI:10.1136/ip.2010.030213