PTSD increases risk for cardiac event among veterans
1. PTSD increases risk for cardiac event among veterans
Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder might be at greater risk of developing heart attack,
even after adjusting for factors such as combat service and period of time military service, as per
recent research.
“There are numerous theories in order to exactly how [post-traumatic stress disorder] impacts on
heart condition,†Alyssa J. Mansfield, PhD, MHA, MPH, of this very National Center for PTSD,
Pacific Islands Division, stated in a press release. “Overall, the data to date feels to point in
direction of the a causal relationship.â€
Mansfield and colleague used outpatient medical records that are caused by the Veterans Affairs
Pacific Islands Health Care System to identify 8,248 veterans who sought care between 2005 and
2012. The researchers evaluated the veterans’ medical records in accordance to factors involved
with cardiac event (hypertension, BMI, age, diabetes and hyperlipidemia), PTSD (anxiety and
depression), and both a heart attack and PTSD (substance use and tobacco use). Additionally they
analyzed regardless of if the veterans had seen combat and which conflict the veterans had
participated in, beginning from Wwii towards the Persian Gulf Wars.
The researchers found that veterans with PTSD were more likely to develop a heart attack within the
7.2-year mean follow-up period (HR = 1.47; 95% CI, 1.13-1.92) in comparison to veterans without
PTSD. This risk for a heart attack remained after adjusting for factors such as age, gender, BMI,
diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, period of time military service and combat service.
Mansfield and colleagues noted that veterans with PTSD were more likely to have seen combat, and
were more likely to have anxiety, depression, adjustment or substance use disorders and also used
tobacco.
Other predictors for heart attack among the study included combat service (HR = 4.99; 95% CI,
1.29-19.38), weight problems (HR = 1.72; 95% CI, 1.25-2.36), obesity (HR = 3.43; 95% CI, 2.5-4.7),
diabetes (HR = 2.54; 95% CI, 2.02-3.2), hypertension (HR = 1.87; 95% CI, 1.42-2.46), and age (HR =
1.05; 95% CI, 1.03-1.07).
![PTSD increases risk for cardiac event among veterans
Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder might be at greater risk of developing heart attack,
even after adjusting for factors such as combat service and period of time military service, as per
recent research.
“There are numerous theories in order to exactly how [post-traumatic stress disorder] impacts on
heart condition,†Alyssa J. Mansfield, PhD, MHA, MPH, of this very National Center for PTSD,
Pacific Islands Division, stated in a press release. “Overall, the data to date feels to point in
direction of the a causal relationship.â€
Mansfield and colleague used outpatient medical records that are caused by the Veterans Affairs
Pacific Islands Health Care System to identify 8,248 veterans who sought care between 2005 and
2012. The researchers evaluated the veterans’ medical records in accordance to factors involved
with cardiac event (hypertension, BMI, age, diabetes and hyperlipidemia), PTSD (anxiety and
depression), and both a heart attack and PTSD (substance use and tobacco use). Additionally they
analyzed regardless of if the veterans had seen combat and which conflict the veterans had
participated in, beginning from Wwii towards the Persian Gulf Wars.
The researchers found that veterans with PTSD were more likely to develop a heart attack within the
7.2-year mean follow-up period (HR = 1.47; 95% CI, 1.13-1.92) in comparison to veterans without
PTSD. This risk for a heart attack remained after adjusting for factors such as age, gender, BMI,
diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, period of time military service and combat service.
Mansfield and colleagues noted that veterans with PTSD were more likely to have seen combat, and
were more likely to have anxiety, depression, adjustment or substance use disorders and also used
tobacco.
Other predictors for heart attack among the study included combat service (HR = 4.99; 95% CI,
1.29-19.38), weight problems (HR = 1.72; 95% CI, 1.25-2.36), obesity (HR = 3.43; 95% CI, 2.5-4.7),
diabetes (HR = 2.54; 95% CI, 2.02-3.2), hypertension (HR = 1.87; 95% CI, 1.42-2.46), and age (HR =
1.05; 95% CI, 1.03-1.07).](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/1428961435552c389b20920-150413164358-conversion-gate01/85/PTSD-increases-risk-for-cardiac-event-among-veterans-1-320.jpg)
