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Military Veterans (military + veteran)
Selected AbstractsPosttraumatic stress disorder as a risk factor for obesity among male military veteransACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 6 2007W. V. R. Vieweg Objective:, Obesity is a significant public health problem in the United States, particularly among military veterans with multiple risk factors. Heretofore, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has not clearly been identified as a risk factor for this condition. Method:, We accessed both a national and local database of PTSD veterans. Results:, Body mass index (BMI) was greater (P < 0.0001) among male military veterans (n = 1819) with PTSD (29.28 ± 6.09 kg/m2) than those veterans (n = 44 959) without PTSD (27.61 ± 5.99 kg/m2) in a sample of randomly selected veterans from the national database. In the local database of male military veterans with PTSD, mean BMI was in the obese range (30.00 ± 5.65) and did not vary by decade of life (P = 0.242). Conclusion:, Posttraumatic stress disorder may be a risk factor for overweight and obesity among male military veterans. [source] Incidence rates of hepatocellular carcinoma in the U.S. and Denmark: Recent trendsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 7 2007Peter Jepsen Abstract Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) incidence rates vary by gender, age, time and place. Geographic differences in gender-, age- and time-specific HCC incidence rates may improve the understanding of HCC risk factors. We computed annual standardized HCC incidence rates for the United States (U.S.) 1978,2004 and for Denmark 1978,2003. Among U.S. white men aged 45,59 the HCC incidence rates were comparable to the Danish rates until 1995, but more than tripled over the following 8 years to become over 2.5-fold higher than the Danish rate by 2003, with an additional small increase in 2004. HCC rates in black U.S. men aged 45,59 also increased sharply after 1995. Among women aged 45,59 the U.S. HCC rates were elevated in recent years, but did not show the sharp increase after 1995 observed among men; the Danish rates showed a decreasing trend throughout 1978,2003. U.S. rates in the 60,74 years age groups showed a protracted and gradual increase with no evidence of a sharp increase after 1995. In the 60,74 years age group, rates for Danish men were comparable to those for U.S. white men, but rates for Danish women decreased. The U.S. prevalence rates of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are 2.1 and 1.1% for men and women, respectively, the Danish 0.2%. The disparity in HCV prevalence is the most likely explanation for the differences between Danish and U.S. trends in HCC incidence. Intravenous drug use and blood transfusions are the major sources of HCV, and we suggest that increased HCV infection prevalence among Vietnam era military veterans may contribute to the earlier and steeper HCC incidence increase for U.S. men than for U.S. women. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Persistence of Traumatic Memories in World War II Prisoners of WarJOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 12 2009(See editorial comments by Dr. Jules Rosen, 2347), on pp 234 OBJECTIVES: To assess the long-term effects of the prisoner of war (POW) experience on U.S. World War II (WWII) veterans. DESIGN: Exploratory study. SETTING: Participants were recruited through the Hines Veterans Affairs Hospital; a POW reunion in Orlando, Florida; and the WWII veterans periodical, "The QUAN." PARTICIPANTS: One hundred fifty-seven American military veterans who were former WWII POWs. MEASURMENTS: Participants completed a mailed survey describing their POW experiences, POW effects on subsequent psychological and physical well-being, and ways in which these experiences shaped major decisions in their lives. RESULTS: Participants from the European and Pacific theaters reported that their captivity during WWII affected their long-term emotional well-being. Both groups reported high rates of reflection, dreaming, and flashbacks pertaining to their POW experiences, but Pacific theater POWs did so at higher rates in the present than in the past. Large portions of both groups reported greater rumination on POW experiences after retirement. Finally, 16.6% of participants met the requirements of a current, clinical diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) based on the Mississippi PTSD scale, with PTSD rates in Pacific theater POWs (34%) three times those of European theater POWs (12%). CONCLUSION: Traumatic memories and clinical levels of PTSD persist for WWII POWs as long as 65 years after their captivity. Additionally, rumination about these experiences, including flashbacks and persistent nightmares, may increase after retirement, particularly for those held in the Pacific theater. These findings inform the current therapeutic needs of this elderly population and future generations of POWs from other military conflicts. [source] Feasibility and tolerability of probiotics for prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea in hospitalized US military veteransJOURNAL OF CLINICAL PHARMACY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 6 2008N. Safdar MD MS Summary Background:, Probiotics may be efficacious for the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea. The tolerability and acceptability of probiotics in an elderly US veteran population has not been assessed. Purpose:, To undertake a randomized trial to determine the tolerability and acceptability of a probiotic, Florajen® in an elderly population with multiple comorbidities. Methods:, Pilot randomized double-blind trial comparing a probiotic, Florajen® to placebo for the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea in elderly hospitalized patients receiving antibiotics. Results:, Forty patients were enrolled and randomized. Antibiotic-associated diarrhoea occurred in 6/16 (37%) in the placebo group and 4/23 (17%) patients in the Florajen® group, (RR 1·63, 95% CI 0·73,3·65, P = 0·15). Florajen® was well tolerated in the study population with no major side effects that necessitated discontinuation. Conclusions:, In this pilot study, Florajen® was well tolerated in an elderly population, all of whom were taking several other medications. A larger study is needed to determine the effect of Florajen® on antibiotic-associated diarrhoea and Clostridium difficile infection. [source] Mechanisms of anger and treatment outcome in combat veterans with posttraumatic stress disorderJOURNAL OF TRAUMATIC STRESS, Issue 2 2008David Forbes Research has identified anger as prominent in, and an influence on, treatment outcome for military veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study examined factors influencing the relationship between anger and outcome to improve treatment effectiveness. Participants comprised 103 veterans attending PTSD treatment. Measures of PTSD and comorbidity were obtained at intake and 9-month follow-up. Measures also included potential mediators of therapeutic alliance, social support, problematic/undermining relationships and fear of emotion. Path analyses supported anger as a predictor of treatment outcome, with only fear of anger and alcohol comorbidity accounting for the variance between anger and outcome. To improve treatment effectiveness, clinicians need to assess veterans' anger, aggression, and alcohol use, as well as their current fear of anger and elucidate the relationship between these factors. [source] Hearing Loss in Union Army Veterans from 1862 to 1920,THE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 12 2004Ryan K. Sewell MD Abstract Objectives: To examine the prevalence of hearing loss (HL) in Union Army (UA) veterans by year, birth cohort, and occupation, and to compare Civil War pension and contemporary disability programs by examining monthly dollar awards. Study Design: A retrospective review of medical records for 17,722 UA veteran pension applicants, a subset of some 35,000 soldiers retrieved randomly from the Military Archives. Methods: The diagnosis of HL was based on review of medical records, which used gross measurements because of the unavailability of audiometric testing. Results: One third (5,891 or 33%) of pensioners sampled received compensation for HL. The veterans with HL suffered predominantly from left-sided HL (4,091 or 70%), which is consistent with noise-induced HL in a right-handed individual firing a rifle. Comparison of civilian occupations reveals minimal variation in prevalence of HL. Civil War pensions for unilateral HL averaged $134.04 per year, representing nearly one third of the average annual income in 1890. Bilateral HL received nearly twice that amount. Today, military veterans receive $1,248 annually for unilateral loss and $27,288 annually for bilateral loss. Social Security disability benefits are granted only for bilateral HL, with an average 60-year-old individual receiving $11,400 per year. Conclusion: HL was a common disability among UA Civil War veterans, with noise exposure a likely etiology for the HL. The differing levels of compensation for HL may reflect differing perceptions on the incapacitating effects of HL. [source] The Veterans Health Administration: An American Success Story?THE MILBANK QUARTERLY, Issue 1 2007ADAM OLIVER The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) provides health care for U.S. military veterans. By the early 1990s, the VHA had a reputation for delivering limited, poor-quality care, which led to health care reforms. By 2000, the VHA had substantially improved in terms of numerous indicators of process quality, and some evidence shows that its overall performance now exceeds that of the rest of U.S. health care. Recently, however, the VHA has started to become a victim of its own success, with increased demands on the system raising concerns from some that access is becoming overly restricted and from others that its annual budget appropriations are becoming excessive. Nonetheless, the apparent turnaround in the VHA's performance offers encouragement that health care that is both financed and provided by the public sector can be an effective organizational form. 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