@article{ref1,
title="Traumatic brain injury and posttraumatic stress disorder are associated with physical health burden among post-9/11 women veterans",
journal="Journal of women's health (Larchmont)",
year="2024",
author="Pebole, Michelle M. and Whitworth, James W. and Iverson, Katherine M. and Currao, Alyssa and Fortier, Catherine B.",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Little research focuses on physical health outcomes of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among post-9/11 women veterans (WVs). This study examined lifetime TBI, current PTSD, and their associations with biomarkers of cardiometabolic health, sleep, pain, and functional disability among post-9/11 WVs. <br><br>METHODS: WVs (n = 90) from the Translational Research Center for TBI and Stress Disorders longitudinal cohort study were included in this study. Gold standard clinician administered interviews assessed lifetime TBI (Boston Assessment of TBI-Lifetime) and current PTSD symptoms (Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale-IV). <br><br>OBJECTIVE measures of health included waist-hip ratio (WHR) and fasted blood biomarker (high density lipoprotein [HDL], low density lipoprotein [LDL], blood glucose, triglycerides) levels. Self-reported surveys assessed sleep, pain, and functional disability. <br><br>RESULTS: Just under two-thirds (58.9%) of WVs experienced a lifetime TBI, and just over half (53.3%) of this sample had a current PTSD diagnosis at the time of testing. Lifetime TBI was significantly associated with higher WHR, triglycerides levels, and worse pain and sleep (ps = <0.01 to 0.02; ds = 0.01 to 1.12). Current PTSD was significantly associated with higher WHR, lower HDL, and worse pain and sleep (ps = <0.01 to 0.02; ds = 0.009 to 1.19). PTSD was significantly associated with lower total functioning and each of its subdomains (βs = -0.58 to 0.63; ps = <0.001 to 0.02). Lifetime TBI was significantly associated with total functioning, mobility, and life/work (βs = -0.20 to 0.30; ps = <0.01 to 0.02). <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the importance of screening for lifetime TBI and cardiovascular disease for WVs and support transdiagnostic treatment approaches targeting physical health outcomes.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1540-9996",
doi="10.1089/jwh.2024.0147",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/jwh.2024.0147"
}