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Akin FW, Swan AA, Kalvesmaki A, Hall CD, Riska KM, Stressman KD, Nguyen H, Amuan M, Pugh MJ. Factors That Impact the Long-Term Outcome of Postconcussive Dizziness Among Post-9/11 Veterans. Am J Audiol 2023; 32:706-720. [PMID: 37040302 DOI: 10.1044/2023_aja-22-00150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/12/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The primary aim of this study was to examine the factors associated with long-term outcomes of postconcussive disruptive dizziness in Veterans of the post-9/11 wars. METHOD For this observational cohort study, the Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory-Vestibular subscale (NSI-V) score was used as an outcome measure for dizziness in 987 post-9/11 Veterans who indicated disruptive dizziness at an initial Veterans Health Administration Comprehensive Traumatic Brain Injury Evaluation (CTBIE). An NSI-V change score was calculated as the difference in the scores obtained at the initial CTBIE and on a subsequent survey. Differences in the NSI-V change scores were examined for demographics, injury characteristics, comorbidities, and vestibular and balance function variables, and multiple linear regression analyses were used to explore associations among the variables and the NSI-V change score. RESULTS The majority of Veterans (61%) demonstrated a decrease in the NSI-V score, suggesting less dizziness on the survey compared with the CTBIE; 16% showed no change; and 22% had a higher score. Significant differences in the NSI-V change score were observed for traumatic brain injury (TBI) status, diagnoses of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), headache and insomnia, and vestibular function. Multivariate regressions revealed significant associations between the NSI-V change score and the initial CTBIE NSI-V score, education level, race/ethnicity, TBI status, diagnoses of PTSD or hearing loss, and vestibular function. CONCLUSIONS Postconcussive dizziness can continue for years following an injury. Factors associated with poor prognosis include TBI, diagnoses of PTSD or hearing loss, abnormal vestibular function, increased age, identification as a Black Veteran, and high school education level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faith W Akin
- Vestibular and Balance Laboratory, James H. Quillen VA Medical Center, Mountain Home, TN
- Department of Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City
| | - Alicia A Swan
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at San Antonio
- Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center, South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio
| | - Andrea Kalvesmaki
- Informatics, Decision-Enhancement, and Analytic Sciences (IDEAS) Center of Innovation, VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, UT
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City
| | - Courtney D Hall
- Vestibular and Balance Laboratory, James H. Quillen VA Medical Center, Mountain Home, TN
- Physical Therapy Program, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City
| | - Kristal M Riska
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery & Communication Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC
| | - Kara D Stressman
- Vestibular and Balance Laboratory, James H. Quillen VA Medical Center, Mountain Home, TN
| | - Huong Nguyen
- Informatics, Decision-Enhancement, and Analytic Sciences (IDEAS) Center of Innovation, VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, UT
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City
| | - Megan Amuan
- Informatics, Decision-Enhancement, and Analytic Sciences (IDEAS) Center of Innovation, VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, UT
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City
| | - Mary Jo Pugh
- Informatics, Decision-Enhancement, and Analytic Sciences (IDEAS) Center of Innovation, VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, UT
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City
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Roghani A, Bouldin E, Mobasher H, Kalvesmaki A, Panahi S, Henion A, VanCott A, Raquel Lopez M, Jo Pugh M. COVID-19 pandemic experiences among people with epilepsy: Effect on symptoms of co-occurring health conditions and fear of seizure. Epilepsy Behav 2023; 144:109206. [PMID: 37236022 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2023.109206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic profoundly affected people worldwide, but little is known about how it impacted people with epilepsy (PWE). We examined the associations between COVID-19 stressors and health outcomes including increases in other health symptoms and fear of seizure among PWE. METHODS This cross-sectional study used data from an online survey that asked about demographic characteristics, health conditions, and potential life stressors during COVID-19. Data were collected from October 30 to December 8, 2020. COVID-19 stressors were anger, anxiety, stress, healthcare access, fear of seeking healthcare, social isolation, sense of control over their lives, and alcohol consumption. A binary variable was created for each of these measures to indicate whether PWEs experienced a negative change versus a neutral or positive change. We used multivariable logistic regression to assess the associations of COVID-19 stressors with primary outcomes: exacerbated co-occurring health conditions and increasing fear of seizure during the pandemic. RESULTS Of the 260 PWE included in the study, 165 (63.5%) were women; the average age was 38.7 years. During the survey administration period, 79 (30.3%) of the respondents reported exacerbated co-occurring health conditions, and 94 (36.2%) reported an increased fear of seizures. Regression results indicated that the fear of seeking healthcare during COVID-19 was associated with both exacerbated co-occurring health conditions (aOR 1.12; 95%CI 1.01-1.26) and increasing fear of seizure (aOR 2.31; 95%CI 1.14-4.68). Social isolation was associated with exacerbated co-occurring health conditions during COVID-19 (aOR 1.14; 95%CI 1.01-1.29). Reduced access to physical healthcare was associated with increasing fear of seizure (aOR 2.58; 95%CI 1.15-5.78). CONCLUSION A considerable number of PWE experienced more symptoms of existing health conditions and fear of seizure during the initial year of the pandemic (2020). Fear of seeking healthcare services was associated with both negative outcomes. Assuring access to health care and reducing social isolation could potentially reduce negative outcomes for PWE. It is necessary to provide adequate support for PWE to reduce risks as COVID-19 continues to be a health concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Roghani
- Division of Epidemiology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Erin Bouldin
- Division of Epidemiology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Helal Mobasher
- Division of Epidemiology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Andrea Kalvesmaki
- Division of Epidemiology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA; VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Samin Panahi
- Division of Epidemiology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA; VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Amy Henion
- Division of Epidemiology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Anne VanCott
- VA Pittsburgh Health Care System, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Neurology, Epilepsy Division University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Maria Raquel Lopez
- Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Mary Jo Pugh
- Division of Epidemiology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA; VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
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Viny M, Trevino AY, Bouldin ED, Kalvesmaki A, Roghani A, Pugh MJ. Caregiver burden and COVID-19: How epilepsy caregivers experienced the pandemic. Epilepsy Behav 2023; 141:109151. [PMID: 36907084 PMCID: PMC9968611 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2023.109151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Caregivers of adults with epilepsy face unique challenges, yet most studies focus on the impact of epilepsy on those living with the condition, rather than the impact on caregivers. Our objective was to evaluate whether caregivers' pandemic-related changes and experiences - namely those related to their health, healthcare access, and well-being - were associated with their caregiving burden. METHODS Caregivers of adults with epilepsy (n = 261) were recruited through Qualtrics Panels to participate in an online survey examining health, well-being, COVID-19 experiences, and caregiver burden from October-December, 2020. The burden was measured using the Zarit 12-item measure; the clinically significant burden was defined as a score greater than 16. Adjustments were made to account for burden scores related to exposures of interest. Chi-square tests, t-tests, and generalized linear regression models were used to compare cross-sectional associations between COVID-19 experiences and burden. RESULTS Over half (57.9%) of caregivers had clinically significant caregiver burden. Most reported increased anxiety (65%), stress (64%), and sense of social isolation (58%) during the pandemic. Many caregivers reported that their sense of control over their life (44%) and their use of healthcare changed (88%) due to COVID-19. In adjusted models, caregivers who reported increased anger, increased anxiety, decreased sense of control, or changes in healthcare utilization during COVID-19 had about twice the odds of having clinically significant caregiver burden compared to caregivers who did not report changes. DISCUSSION Changes experienced by caregivers of adults with epilepsy during the pandemic were strongly associated with clinically significant levels of caregiver burden. These findings demonstrate the link between mass-level events, such as a pandemic, the burden caregivers of adults with epilepsy may carry, and subsequent psychological outcomes. CONCLUSION Caregivers of adults with epilepsy may need support to reduce the negative impact of COVID-19-related experiences and should be connected to healthcare and resources that can help alleviate their burden.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikayla Viny
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, United States.
| | - Amira Y Trevino
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, United States; Department of Educational Psychology, University of Utah College of Education, Salt Lake City, UT, United States.
| | - Erin D Bouldin
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, United States.
| | - Andrea Kalvesmaki
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, United States; Informatics, Decision-Enhancement, and Analytic Sciences Center, Veterans Affairs Salt Lake City Health Care System, Salt Lake City, UT, United States.
| | - Ali Roghani
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, United States.
| | - Mary Jo Pugh
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, United States; Informatics, Decision-Enhancement, and Analytic Sciences Center, Veterans Affairs Salt Lake City Health Care System, Salt Lake City, UT, United States.
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Penney L, Noel P, Hernandez-Swift K, Leykum L, Trivedi R, Dang S, Kalvesmaki A, Butler J. CHALLENGES AND SUPPORTS FOR VETERAN CAREGIVERS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: A MIXED-METHODS STUDY. Innov Aging 2022. [PMCID: PMC9770316 DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igac059.1147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Informal caregivers face challenges in supporting older or medically-complex Veterans, which could be exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Our mixed methods observational study explored Veteran caregivers’ supports, challenges, and self-identified impacts during the pandemic. Caregivers whose veterans needed help with at least one activity of daily living for the last year and received care at one of five Veterans Health Administration (VA) study sites were eligible. Survey participants (n=46) were 96% female, 32-83 years old (median 59); most (83%) cared for a spouse. A majority (67%, n=31) reported increased stress since the start of the pandemic. Top sources of increased stress included worry about COVID-19 infection, increased caregiving responsibility, delayed access to care, concerns about vaccine safety, and employment or financial concerns. Caregiver interviews (n=26) qualitatively analyzed using a rapid, templated approach identified the following themes: (1) the benefits and challenges of VA COVID precautions to Veteran care access (e.g. telehealth, getting care for new problems), (2) supports afforded by and limits of the expansion of the VA Caregiver Support Program, (3) declines in Veteran physical and cognitive functioning, (4) increased caregiver role in Veterans’ support and care, (5) changes in work and living situations to address increased caregiving needs and/or reduce risk of exposure, and (6) loss of and then return to more usual routines and social outlets amid ongoing COVID-related uncertainties. Recommendations include targeted, personalized outreach to engage caregivers in existing supports, removing barriers and streamlining processes for obtaining services, and creating durable caregiver-to-caregiver, peer support opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Penney
- South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio, Texas, United States
| | - Polly Noel
- South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio, Texas, United States
| | | | - Luci Leykum
- South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio, Texas, United States
| | - Ranak Trivedi
- Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, United States
| | - Stuti Dang
- Miami Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, Miami, Florida, United States
| | - Andrea Kalvesmaki
- Informatics, Decision-Enhancement and Analytic Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
| | - Jorie Butler
- Salt Lake City Veterans Health Care System, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
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Swan AA, Akin FW, Amuan ME, Riska KM, Hall CD, Kalvesmaki A, Padilla S, Crowsey E, Pugh MJ. Disruptive Dizziness Among Post-9/11 Veterans With Deployment-Related Traumatic Brain Injury. J Head Trauma Rehabil 2022; 37:199-212. [PMID: 34320551 DOI: 10.1097/htr.0000000000000714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To identify disruption due to dizziness symptoms following deployment-related traumatic brain injury (TBI) and factors associated with receiving diagnoses for these symptoms. SETTING Administrative medical record data from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). PARTICIPANTS Post-9/11 veterans with at least 3 years of VA care who reported at least occasional disruption due to dizziness symptoms on the comprehensive TBI evaluation. DESIGN A cross-sectional, retrospective, observational study. MAIN MEASURES International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification diagnosis codes of dizziness, vestibular dysfunction, and other postconcussive conditions; neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory. RESULTS Increased access to or utilization of specialty care at the VA was significant predictors of dizziness and/or vestibular dysfunction diagnoses in the fully adjusted model. Veterans who identified as Black non-Hispanic and those with substance use disorder diagnoses or care were substantially less likely to receive dizziness and vestibular dysfunction diagnoses. CONCLUSIONS Access to specialty care was the single best predictor of dizziness and vestibular dysfunction diagnoses, underscoring the importance of facilitating referrals to and utilization of specialized, comprehensive clinical facilities or experts for veterans who report disruptive dizziness following deployment-related TBI. There is a clear need for an evidence-based pathway to address disruptive symptoms of dizziness, given the substantial variation in audiovestibular tests utilized by US providers by region and clinical specialty. Further, the dearth of diagnoses among Black veterans and those in more rural areas underscores the potential for enhanced cultural competency among providers, telemedicine, and patient education to bridge existing gaps in the care of dizziness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia A Swan
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio (Dr Swan and Ms Crowsey); South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio (Dr Swan); James H Quillen VA Medical Center, Mountain Home, Tennessee (Drs Akin and Hall); Departments of Audiology and Speech Language Pathology (Dr Akin) and Rehabilitative Sciences (Dr Hall), East Tennessee State University, Johnson City; Informatics, Decision-Enhancement and Analytic Sciences Center (IDEAS 2.0), VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, Salt Lake City, Utah (Mss Amuan and Padilla and Drs Kalvesmaki and Pugh); Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City (Mss Amuan and Padilla and Drs Kalvesmaki and Pugh); Department of Head and Neck Surgery & Communication Sciences, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina (Dr Riska); and Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina (Dr Riska)
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Leykum LK, Penney LS, Dang S, Trivedi RB, Noël PH, Pugh JA, Shepherd-Banigan ME, Pugh MJ, Rupper R, Finley E, Parish-Johnson J, Delgado R, Peacock K, Kalvesmaki A, Van Houtven CH. Recommendations to Improve Health Outcomes Through Recognizing and Supporting Caregivers. J Gen Intern Med 2022; 37:1265-1269. [PMID: 34981348 PMCID: PMC8722428 DOI: 10.1007/s11606-021-07247-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Luci K Leykum
- Department of Veterans Affairs Elizabeth Dole Center of Excellence for Veteran and Caregiver Research, San Antonio, USA.
- South Texas Veterans Health Care System, 7400 Merton Minter Blvd, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA.
- University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School, Austin, USA.
- VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, USA.
| | - Lauren S Penney
- Department of Veterans Affairs Elizabeth Dole Center of Excellence for Veteran and Caregiver Research, San Antonio, USA
- South Texas Veterans Health Care System, 7400 Merton Minter Blvd, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
- Long School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, USA
| | - Stuti Dang
- Department of Veterans Affairs Elizabeth Dole Center of Excellence for Veteran and Caregiver Research, San Antonio, USA
- Miami VA Healthcare System, Miami, USA
- University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, USA
| | - Ranak B Trivedi
- Department of Veterans Affairs Elizabeth Dole Center of Excellence for Veteran and Caregiver Research, San Antonio, USA
- VA Greater Los Angeles Health Care System, Los Angeles, USA
- VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, USA
- Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, USA
| | - Polly H Noël
- Department of Veterans Affairs Elizabeth Dole Center of Excellence for Veteran and Caregiver Research, San Antonio, USA
- South Texas Veterans Health Care System, 7400 Merton Minter Blvd, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
- Long School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, USA
| | - Jacqueline A Pugh
- Department of Veterans Affairs Elizabeth Dole Center of Excellence for Veteran and Caregiver Research, San Antonio, USA
- South Texas Veterans Health Care System, 7400 Merton Minter Blvd, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
- Long School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, USA
| | - Megan E Shepherd-Banigan
- Department of Veterans Affairs Elizabeth Dole Center of Excellence for Veteran and Caregiver Research, San Antonio, USA
- Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, USA
- Center of Innovation To Accelerate Discovery and Practice Transformation, Durham VAMC, Durham, USA
| | - Mary Jo Pugh
- Department of Veterans Affairs Elizabeth Dole Center of Excellence for Veteran and Caregiver Research, San Antonio, USA
- VA Salt Lake City Health Care System/GRECC, Salt Lake City, USA
- University of Utah Health Care School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, USA
| | - Rand Rupper
- Department of Veterans Affairs Elizabeth Dole Center of Excellence for Veteran and Caregiver Research, San Antonio, USA
- VA Salt Lake City Health Care System/GRECC, Salt Lake City, USA
- University of Utah Health Care School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, USA
| | - Erin Finley
- Department of Veterans Affairs Elizabeth Dole Center of Excellence for Veteran and Caregiver Research, San Antonio, USA
- South Texas Veterans Health Care System, 7400 Merton Minter Blvd, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
- Long School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, USA
| | - Julie Parish-Johnson
- Department of Veterans Affairs Elizabeth Dole Center of Excellence for Veteran and Caregiver Research, San Antonio, USA
- South Texas Veterans Health Care System, 7400 Merton Minter Blvd, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
- Long School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, USA
| | - Roxana Delgado
- Department of Veterans Affairs Elizabeth Dole Center of Excellence for Veteran and Caregiver Research, San Antonio, USA
- South Texas Veterans Health Care System, 7400 Merton Minter Blvd, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
- Long School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, USA
| | - Kimberly Peacock
- Department of Veterans Affairs Elizabeth Dole Center of Excellence for Veteran and Caregiver Research, San Antonio, USA
- South Texas Veterans Health Care System, 7400 Merton Minter Blvd, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
- Long School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, USA
| | - Andrea Kalvesmaki
- Department of Veterans Affairs Elizabeth Dole Center of Excellence for Veteran and Caregiver Research, San Antonio, USA
- VA Salt Lake City Health Care System/GRECC, Salt Lake City, USA
- University of Utah Health Care School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, USA
| | - Courtney H Van Houtven
- Department of Veterans Affairs Elizabeth Dole Center of Excellence for Veteran and Caregiver Research, San Antonio, USA
- Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, USA
- Center of Innovation To Accelerate Discovery and Practice Transformation, Durham VAMC, Durham, USA
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Longoria AJ, Horton A, Swan AA, Kalvesmaki A, Pugh MJ. Effect of multimorbidity and psychosocial factors on posttraumatic stress symptoms among post-9/11 veterans. Rehabil Psychol 2022; 67:69-78. [PMID: 34726456 PMCID: PMC8813875 DOI: 10.1037/rep0000346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Examine the association of multimorbidity and psychosocial functioning with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom severity reported among post-9/11 veterans. METHOD This was a secondary analysis of survey data collected from a national sample of post-9/11 veterans with at least 3 years of Department of Veterans Affairs care, stratified by comorbidity trajectory and sex (N = 1,989). Comorbidity trajectories were derived by latent class analysis to develop probabilistic combinations of physical and mental health conditions in a previous effort (Pugh et al., 2016). In this study, linear models analyzed symptom severity reported on the PTSD Checklist for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition by psychosocial factors (i.e., resilience, self-efficacy, and postdeployment social support) while controlling for sociodemographic characteristics and deployment experiences. RESULTS Veterans in the mental health, pain, and polytrauma clinical triad comorbidity trajectories reported more severe PTSD symptoms than the healthy comorbidity trajectory (p < .01). All psychosocial factors were significantly associated with PTSD symptom severity, accounting for nearly 43% of variability in follow-up analyses. Confidence in self-efficacy demonstrated the strongest association among them (p < .01). CONCLUSION Veterans experiencing multimorbidity, particularly mental health distress, reported greater PTSD symptom severity after controlling for psychosocial factors, sociodemographics, and deployment experiences. The salience of psychosocial factors in reported PTSD symptom severity underscores resilience, self-efficacy and social support as potential facilitators of functional reintegration following military service. Our analyses underscore the need to address the systemic barriers in health care access and delivery for minority patient populations in future investigations. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony J. Longoria
- Department of Psychology, the University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio TX
| | - Avery Horton
- Department of Psychology, the University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio TX
| | - Alicia A. Swan
- Department of Psychology, the University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio TX
- South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio TX
| | - Andrea Kalvesmaki
- University of Utah Medicine, Salt Lake City UT
- Salt Lake Veterans Health Care System, Salt Lake City UT
| | - Mary Jo Pugh
- University of Utah Medicine, Salt Lake City UT
- Salt Lake Veterans Health Care System, Salt Lake City UT
| | - Trajectories of Resilience and Complex Comorbidity Study Team
- Salt Lake Veterans Health Care System, Salt Lake City UT
- Departments of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
- Division of General and Hospital Medicine, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
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8
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Pugh MJ, Kennedy E, Gugger JJ, Mayo J, Tate D, Swan A, Kean J, Altalib H, Gowda S, Towne A, Hinds S, Van Cott A, Lopez MR, Jaramillo CA, Eapen BC, McCafferty RR, Salinsky M, Cramer J, McMillan KK, Kalvesmaki A, Diaz-Arrastia R. The Military Injuries: Understanding Post-Traumatic Epilepsy Study: Understanding Relationships among Lifetime Traumatic Brain Injury History, Epilepsy, and Quality of Life. J Neurotrauma 2021; 38:2841-2850. [PMID: 34353118 PMCID: PMC8820288 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2021.0015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding risk for epilepsy among persons who sustain a mild (mTBI) traumatic brain injury (TBI) is crucial for effective intervention and prevention. However, mTBI is frequently undocumented or poorly documented in health records. Further, health records are non-continuous, such as when persons move through health systems (e.g., from Department of Defense to Veterans Affairs [VA] or between jobs in the civilian sector), making population-based assessments of this relationship challenging. Here, we introduce the MINUTE (Military INjuries-Understanding post-Traumatic Epilepsy) study, which integrates data from the Veterans Health Administration with self-report survey data for post-9/11 veterans (n = 2603) with histories of TBI, epilepsy and controls without a history of TBI or epilepsy. This article describes the MINUTE study design, implementation, hypotheses, and initial results across four groups of interest for neurotrauma: 1) control; 2) epilepsy; 3) TBI; and 4) post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE). Using combined survey and health record data, we test hypotheses examining lifetime history of TBI and the differential impacts of TBI, epilepsy, and PTE on quality of life. The MINUTE study revealed high rates of undocumented lifetime TBIs among veterans with epilepsy who had no evidence of TBI in VA medical records. Further, worse physical functioning and health-related quality of life were found for persons with epilepsy + TBI compared to those with either epilepsy or TBI alone. This effect was not fully explained by TBI severity. These insights provide valuable opportunities to optimize the resilience, delivery of health services, and community reintegration of veterans with TBI and complex comorbidity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Jo Pugh
- VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- Division of Epidemiology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Eamonn Kennedy
- Division of Epidemiology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - James J. Gugger
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jamie Mayo
- Division of Epidemiology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - David Tate
- VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Alicia Swan
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Jacob Kean
- VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Hamada Altalib
- Epilepsy Center of Excellence VA Connecticut Health Care System, West Haven, Connecticut, USA; Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, West Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Shaila Gowda
- Department of Neurology, Baylor School of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Alan Towne
- Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center, Richmond, Virginia, USA; Department of Neurology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Sidney Hinds
- Department of Neurology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Anne Van Cott
- VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Maria R. Lopez
- Miami VA Health Care System, Miami, Florida, USA; Department of Neurology, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Carlos A. Jaramillo
- Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center, South Texas Veterans Healthcare System, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Blessen C. Eapen
- VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California, USA; University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | | | - Martin Salinsky
- VA Portland Healthcare System, Portland, Oregon, USA; Oregon Health & Sciences University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Joyce Cramer
- Department of Neurology, Baylor School of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Cramer Consulting, Houston, Texas, USA
| | | | - Andrea Kalvesmaki
- VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- Division of Epidemiology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Ramon Diaz-Arrastia
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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