Health concerns rank highest among transitioning veterans

Dawne Vogt and colleagues’ new study examines what veterans report as their most pressing needs as they transition from service to veteran status. Based on a roster of separating service members provided by the Department of Defense, they surveyed nearly 10,000 recent veterans in 2016 about their status, functioning, and key aspects of their lives (more on their instrument is provided here). Most notable to me were veterans’ self-reported health needs: 52% of veterans were unsatisfied with their health, and the top conditions reported were pain, sleep difficulties, anxiety, and depression. In comparison, 68% were satisfied with their work, 69% were satisfied with their intimate partner relationship, and 67% were satisfied with their community involvement. It’s also noteworthy that enlisted personnel fared worse on almost all domains relative to officers. While this doesn’t discount the importance of addressing social issues like housing, unemployment, and food insecurity - especially because we are increasingly learning about the influence of these factors on health - it reminds us that a focus on managing health symptoms, facilitating access to high quality treatment, preventing the onset of new disease states, and encouraging those with chronic conditions to adapt and grow remain critically important for ensuring successful veteran reintegration.

Vogt D et al. 2019. U.S. Military Veterans’ Health and Well-Being in the First Year After Service. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2019.10.016. [Epub ahead of print]

More information here: https://www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797(19)30481-7/fulltext