Gender differences in rates of depression, PTSD, pain, obesity, and military sexual trauma among Connecticut War Veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan.
OBJECTIVE
The current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have led to an increasing number of female veterans seeking medical and mental healthcare in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare system. To better understand gender differences in healthcare needs among recently returned veterans, we examined the prevalence of positive screenings for depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), military sexual trauma (MST), obesity, and chronic pain among female and male veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) receiving care at the VA Connecticut Healthcare System.


METHODS
We performed a retrospective, cross-sectional data analysis of OEF/OIF veterans at VA Connecticut who received services in either Primary Care or the Women's Health Clinic between 2001 and 2006.


RESULTS
In this study, 1129 electronic medical records (1032 men, 197 women) were examined. Female veterans were more likely to screen positive for MST (14% vs. 1%, p < 0.001) and depression (48% vs. 39%, p = 0.01) and less likely to screen positive for PTSD (21% vs. 33%, p = 0.002). There was no significant gender difference in clinically significant pain scores. Men were more likely than women to have body mass index (BMI) >30 kg/m(2) (21% vs. 13%, p = 0.008).


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that important gender differences exist in the prevalence of positive screenings for MST, depression, obesity, and PTSD. As the VA continues to review and improve its services for women veterans, clinicians, researchers, and senior leaders should consider innovative ways to ensure that female veterans receive the health services they need within the VA system.
Haskell
Sally G
SG
Department of Medicine, Section of General Internal Medicine, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, New Haven, Connecticut 06516, USA. sally.haskell@va.gov
Gordon
Kirsha S
KS
Mattocks
Kristin
K
Duggal
Mona
M
Erdos
Joseph
J
Justice
Amy
A
Brandt
Cynthia A
CA
D000328:Adult; D000346:Afghanistan; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003237:Connecticut / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007493:Iraq; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017064:Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011902:Rape / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data