Association of COPD and Depression in Veterans

Many veterans are exposed to combat and other forms of trauma. There is research to suggest an association between trauma and chronic disease. Research also indicates an association between veterans’ mental health diagnoses and various physical health domains including pulmonary diseases such as COPD. The study was an analysis of the association between depressive disorders and COPD prevalence between veterans and non-veterans using syndemic theory. Analysis was conducted on data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), a national database that collects cross sectional survey data concerning health risk factors, chronic health conditions, access to healthcare, and preventive service.