Add like
Add dislike
Add to saved papers

Risk factors associated with posttraumatic stress disorder in US veterans: A cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between clinical and exercise test factors and the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in US Veterans.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Exercise capacity, demographics and clinical variables were assessed in 5826 veterans (mean age 59.4 ± 11.5 years) from the Veterans Affairs Healthcare System in Palo Alto, CA. The study participants underwent routine clinical exercise testing between the years 1987 and 2011. The study end point was the development of PTSD.

RESULTS: A total of 723 (12.9%) veterans were diagnosed with PTSD after a mean follow-up of 9.6 ± 5.6 years. Drug abuse (HR: 1.98, CI: 1.33-2.92, p = .001), current smoking (HR: 1.57, CI: 1.35-2.24, p <.001), alcohol abuse (HR: 1.58, CI: 1.12-2.24, p = .009), history of chest pain (HR: 1.48, CI: 1.25-1.75, p <.001) and higher exercise capacity (HR: 1.03, CI: 1.01-1.05, p = .003) were strong independent risk factors for PTSD in a univariate model. Physical activity pattern was not associated with PTSD in either the univariate or multivariate models. In the final multivariate model, current smoking (HR: 1.30, CI: 1.10-1.53, p = .002) history of chest pain (HR: 1.37, CI: 1.15-1.63, p <.001) and younger age (HR: 0.97, CI: 0.97-0.98, p <.001) were significantly associated to PTSD.

CONCLUSIONS: Onset of PTSD is significantly associated with current smoking, history of chest pain and younger age. Screening veterans with multiple risk factors for symptoms of PTSD should therefore be taken into account.

Full text links

We have located links that may give you full text access.
Can't access the paper?
Try logging in through your university/institutional subscription. For a smoother one-click institutional access experience, please use our mobile app.

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

Mobile app image

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.

By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.

Your Privacy Choices Toggle icon

You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app