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Table 2 Sociodemographic, medical and psychiatric characteristics of veterans (N = 253)

From: The association of posttraumatic stress disorder and metabolic syndrome: a study of increased health risk in veterans

Sociodemographic data Number (percentage) of all veterans
Male 233 (92%)
Race  
   White 193 (76.3%)
   Black 47 (18.6%)
   Other 13 (5.1%)
Branch of service  
   Army 153 (60.5%)
   Marines 53 (20.9%)
   Navy 26 (10.3%)
   Air Force 21 (8.3%)
Service era  
   World War II 7 (2.8%)
   Korea 8 (3.2%)
   Vietnam 180 (71.1%)
   Gulf War I 36 (14.2%)
   Other conflicts 22 (8.7%)
Medical and psychiatric diagnoses  
   PTSD  
At least moderate severity 139 (54.9%)a
Subthreshold severity 60 (24.0%)a
   MDD 163 (64.4%)
   Nicotine abuse/dependence (lifetime) 98 (38.7%)
   Substance abuse/dependence (past) 102 (40.3%)
   Alcohol abuse/dependence (past) 174 (68.8%)
   Co-morbid PTSD and MDD 104 (41.1%)b
   Co-morbid PTSD and lifetime nicotine abuse/dependence 53 (20.9%)
   Co-morbid PTSD and past substance abuse/dependence 67 (26.5%)
   Co-morbid PTSD and past alcohol abuse/dependence 107 (42.3%)
Metabolic syndrome (prevalence) 101 (39.9%)c
   PTSD only and metabolic syndrome 12 (34.3%)d
   MDD only and metabolic syndrome 17 (28.8%)e
   PTSD, MDD and metabolic syndrome 48 (46.2%)f
Other factors:  
Age (mean ± standard deviation (SD)) = 51.5 ± 9.0 years
Length of education (mean ± SD) = 12.9 ± 2.4 years
CAPS score (mean ± SD) = 62.8 ± 29.4 years.
  1. aThose identified as meeting Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition (DSM-IV) criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were subclassified into subthreshold (Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) < 65) or moderate to severe PTSD (CAPS ≥ 65).
  2. bDiagnosis of PTSD if CAPS ≥ 65; diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) determined by structured psychodiagnostic clinical interview.
  3. cMetabolic syndrome status if three of five criteria are present (serum triglycerides at least 150 mg dl-1, high-density lipoprotein less than 35 mg dl-1, blood pressure at least 130/85 mm/Hg, waist-to-hip ratio at least 0.90 for men and at least 0.85 for women, and plasma glucose concentration at least 110 mg dl-1).
  4. dPercentage of those with PTSD only who meet criteria for metabolic syndrome.
  5. ePercentage of those with MDD only who meet criteria for metabolic syndrome.
  6. fPercentage of those with both PTSD and MDD who meet criteria for metabolic syndrome.
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BMC Medicine

ISSN: 1741-7015

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