PTSD and Metabolic Syndrome in Veterans
January 12, 2009
(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are more likely to have Metabolic Syndrome than veterans without PTSD.
Metabolic syndrome is composed of a cluster of clinical signs including obesity, high blood pressure and insulin resistance. It is also associated with cardiovascular disease.
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego and Veterans Affairs of San Diego, VA Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health studied a group of male and female veterans who were being screened and treated within PTSD programs. The sample was mostly male, Caucasian and an average age of 52. A majority of the sample had served in the U.S. army and were Vietnam-ear veterans.
Clinical data revealed 55 percent of the veterans had moderate to severe levels of PTSD and 64 percent met the criteria for major depressive disorder (MDD). After controlling for other factors, researchers found those with a higher severity of PTSD were more likely to meet the diagnostic criteria for metabolic syndrome. Additionally, the rate of metabolic syndrome was higher among those with PTSD (34 percent) than in those with MDD (29 percent). For those with both PTSD and MDD, 46 percent met criteria for metabolic syndrome.
SOURCE: BMC Medicine, published online Jan. 8. 2009
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