Differences in healthcare costs over 10 years following discharge from military service by weight trajectory

Edwin S Wong; Karen M Stechuchak; Valerie A Smith; Anna Hung; Paul A Dennis; Katherine D Hoerster; Matthew L Maciejewski

doi:10.1016/j.orcp.2024.03.008

Differences in healthcare costs over 10 years following discharge from military service by weight trajectory

Obes Res Clin Pract. 2024 Mar-Apr;18(2):88-93. doi: 10.1016/j.orcp.2024.03.008. Epub 2024 Apr 1.

Authors

Edwin S Wong¹, Karen M Stechuchak², Valerie A Smith³, Anna Hung⁴, Paul A Dennis⁴, Katherine D Hoerster⁵, Matthew L Maciejewski⁶

Affiliations

¹ Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, 1660 S. Columbian Way, MS-152, Seattle, WA 98108, USA; Department of Health Systems and Population Health, University of Washington, 3980 15th Ave. NE, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. Electronic address: edwin.wong@va.gov.
² Center of Innovation to Accelerate Discovery and Practice Transformation, Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 508 Fulton St., Durham, NC 27705, USA.
³ Center of Innovation to Accelerate Discovery and Practice Transformation, Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 508 Fulton St., Durham, NC 27705, USA; Department of Population Health Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, 215 Morris St., Durham, NC 27701, USA; Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Duke University, 200 Morris St., Durham, NC 27701, USA.
⁴ Center of Innovation to Accelerate Discovery and Practice Transformation, Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 508 Fulton St., Durham, NC 27705, USA; Department of Population Health Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, 215 Morris St., Durham, NC 27701, USA.
⁵ Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, 1660 S. Columbian Way, MS-152, Seattle, WA 98108, USA; Department of Health Systems and Population Health, University of Washington, 3980 15th Ave. NE, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, 1959 NE Pacific St., Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
⁶ Center of Innovation to Accelerate Discovery and Practice Transformation, Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 508 Fulton St., Durham, NC 27705, USA; Department of Population Health Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, 215 Morris St., Durham, NC 27701, USA; Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Duke University, 200 Morris St., Durham, NC 27701, USA; Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy, Duke University, 100 Fuqua Drive, Box 90120, Durham, NC 27708, USA.

PMID: 38565463
DOI: 10.1016/j.orcp.2024.03.008

Abstract

The prevalence of overweight and obesity among military personnel has increased substantially in the past two decades. Following military discharge many personnel can receive integrated health care from the Veterans Health Administration. Prior research related to the economic impacts of obesity has not examined health care costs following the transition into civilian life following military discharge. To address this evidence gap, this study sought to compare longitudinal costs over 10 years across weight categories among VA enrollees recently discharged from the military.

Keywords: Health care costs; Health care delivery; Integrated health system; Obesity; Veterans.

Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Publication types

Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
Letter

MeSH terms

Adult
Female
Health Care Costs* / statistics & numerical data
Humans
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Middle Aged
Military Personnel* / statistics & numerical data
Obesity* / economics
Obesity* / epidemiology
Overweight / economics
Overweight / epidemiology
Patient Discharge
United States
United States Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans / statistics & numerical data