Cigarette Smoking and Sociodemographic, Military, and Health Characteristics of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom Veterans: 2009-2011 National Health Study for a New Generation of US Veterans

• Published in: Public health reports (1974) 2016-09, Vol.131 (5), p.714-727
• Main Authors: Cypel, Yasmin S., Hamlett-Berry, Kim, Barth, Shannon K., Christofferson, Dana E., Davey, Victoria J., Eber, Stephanie, Schneiderman, Aaron I., Bossarte, Robert M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Afghan Campaign 2001; Afghanistan War; Age Distribution; Alcohol; Alcohol Drinking - epidemiology; Alcoholic beverages; Armed forces; Army; Cigarette smoking; Cigarettes; Confidence intervals; Convulsions; Data analysis; Depression - epidemiology; Federal agencies; Female; Freedoms; Health care; Health risk assessment; Health Status; Humans; Internet; Iraq War, 2003-2011; Low income groups; Male; Mental disorders; Mental health; Mental Health - statistics & numerical data; Mental health services; Middle Aged; Military; Military personnel; Military service; Physical fitness; Prevalence; Regression analysis; Seizures; Self evaluation; Self Report; Sex Distribution; Smoking; Smoking - epidemiology; Smoking cessation; Sociodemographics; Socioeconomic Factors; Spotlight on Veterans' Health: After the War; Substance abuse; Substance use; Trust; United States; Veterans; Veterans - statistics & numerical data
• ISSN: 0033-3549; 1468-2877
• DOI: 10.1177/0033354916664864

Objective: We examined the sociodemographic, military, and health characteristics of current cigarette smokers, former smokers, and nonsmokers among Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) / Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) veterans and estimated smoking prevalence to better understand cigarette use in this population. Methods: We analyzed data from the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) 2009-2011 National Health Study for a New Generation of US Veterans. On the basis of a stratified random sample of 60 000 OEF/OIF veterans, we sought responses to a 72-item questionnaire via mail, telephone, or Internet. Cigarette smoking status was based on self-reported cigarette use in the past year. We used multinomial logistic regression to evaluate associations between smoking status and sociodemographic, military, and health characteristics. Results: Among 19 911 veterans who provided information on cigarette smoking, 5581 were current smokers (weighted percentage: 32.5%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 31.7-33.2). Current smokers were more likely than nonsmokers or former smokers to be younger, to have less education or income, to be separated/divorced or never married/single, and to have served on active duty or in the army. Comparing current smokers and nonsmokers, some significant associations from adjusted analyses included the following: having a Mental Component Summary score (a measure of overall mental health) above the mean of the US population relative to below the mean (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.81, 95% CI: 0.73-0.90); having physician-diagnosed depression (aOR = 1.52, 95% CI: 1.33-1.74), respiratory conditions (aOR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.04-1.30), or repeated seizures/blackouts/convulsions (aOR = 1.80, 95% CI: 1.22-2.67); heavy alcohol use vs never use (aOR = 5.49, 95% CI: 4.57-6.59); a poor vs excellent perception of overall health (aOR = 3.79, 95% CI: 2.60-5.52); and being deployed vs nondeployed (aOR = 0.87, 95% CI: 0.78-0.96). Using health care services from the VA protected against current smoking. Conclusion: Mental and physical health, substance use, and military service characteristics shape cigarette-smoking patterns in OEF/OIF veterans.