Correlates of CVD and discussing sexual issues with physicians among male military veterans.
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to identify socio-demographic and health behavior factors associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) diagnosis and patient-physician communication concerning sexual issues among older Veterans.


METHODS
Cross-sectional data were collected from 635 male Veterans over age 55 years as part of the 2010 National Social Life, Health and Aging Project, a nationally-representative, population-based study of community-dwelling older Americans. Two independent logistic regression analyses were performed.


RESULTS
Over 33% of Veterans were aged 75 years or older. Over one-half of participants reported having a CVD diagnosis (58%) and sexual intercourse within the previous year (58%); over one-third (37%) reported having one or more sexual dysfunctions and discussing sexual issues with their physician (42%). Veterans diagnosed with CVD were significantly more likely to self-identify as racial/ethnic minorities (OR=1.89, P=0.021), have more chronic disease comorbidities (OR=1.23, P=0.041), and have more sexual dysfunctions (OR=1.19, P=0.028). Veterans diagnosed with CVD were significantly less likely to report having sex within the previous year (OR=0.53, P=0.005). Veterans who reported discussing sexual issues with a physician were significantly more likely to be ≥75 years (OR=1.79, P=0.010), and report more than a high school education (OR=1.62, P=0.016), CVD diagnosis (OR=1.59, P=0.015), sex within the previous year (OR=1.69, P=0.033), and trouble achieving/maintaining an erection (OR=3.39, P<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest older male Veterans, particularly racial/ethnic minorities and those less-educated, may benefit from VA and community-based aging and sexual health/counseling services. These services should promote increased patient-physician communication as well as referrals between physicians and sex health/counseling specialists.
Department of Health Promotion and Behavior, College of Public Health, The University of Georgia, Health Science Campus, 100 Foster Road, Wright Hall #345E, Athens, GA 30602, USA; Department of Health Promotion and Community Health Sciences, Texas A&M School of Public Health, TAMU 1266, College Station, TX 77842, USA. Electronic address: health@uga.edu.
Matthew Lee
ML
Smith
Social Work Program, University of Houston-Downtown, One Main Street, Suite C345E, Houston, TX, 77002, USA; Infectious Diseases Section, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
Heather Honoré
HH
Goltz
Johns Hopkins Bayview Hospital, 4940 Eastern Ave, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA.
Audry S
AS
Motlagh
Department of Health Promotion and Community Health Sciences, Texas A&M School of Public Health, TAMU 1266, College Station, TX 77842, USA; Division of Health Systems Management and Policy, School of Public Health, The University of Memphis, 133 Robison Hall, Memphis, TN 38152, USA.
SangNam
S
Ahn
Bexar County Community Health Collaborative, 1002 North Flores Street, San Antonio, TX 78212, USA.
Caroline D
CD
Bergeron
Department of Health Promotion and Community Health Sciences, Texas A&M School of Public Health, TAMU 1266, College Station, TX 77842, USA.
Marcia G
MG
Ory
D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D003075:Coitus; D003142:Communication; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D019529:Sexuality; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*
Heart disease; Men’s health; Patient-physician interaction; Sexual dysfunction; Veterans