Abstract | BACKGROUND: OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to identify comorbidity clusters among diagnoses of deployment-specific (TBI, PTSD, pain) and chronic (eg, hypertension, diabetes) conditions, and to examine the association of these clusters with health care utilization and adverse outcomes. RESEARCH DESIGN: This was a retrospective cohort study. SUBJECTS: The cohort comprised OEF/OIF Veterans who received care in the Veterans Health Administration in fiscal years (FY) 2008-2010. MEASURES: We identified comorbidity using validated ICD-9-CM code-based algorithms and FY08-09 data, followed by which we applied latent class analysis to identify the most statistically distinct and clinically meaningful patterns of comorbidity. We examined the association of these clusters with process measures/outcomes using logistic regression to correlate medication use, acute health care utilization, and adverse outcomes in FY10. RESULTS: In this cohort (N=191,797), we found 6 comorbidity clusters. Cluster 1: PCT+Chronic Disease (5%); Cluster 2: PCT (9%); Cluster 3: Mental Health+Substance Abuse (24%); Cluster 4: Sleep, Amputation, Chronic Disease (4%); Cluster 5: Pain, Moderate PTSD (6%); and Cluster 6: Relatively Healthy (53%). Subsequent health care utilization patterns and adverse events were consistent with disease patterns. CONCLUSIONS: These comorbidity clusters extend beyond the PCT and may be used as a foundation to examine coordination/quality of care and outcomes for OEF/OIF Veterans with different patterns of comorbidity.
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Authors | Mary Jo V Pugh, Erin P Finley, Laurel A Copeland, Chen-Pin Wang, Polly H Noel, Megan E Amuan, Helen M Parsons, Margaret Wells, Barbara Elizondo, Jacqueline A Pugh |
Journal | Medical care
(Med Care)
Vol. 52
Issue 2
Pg. 172-81
(Feb 2014)
ISSN: 1537-1948 [Electronic] United States |
PMID | 24374417
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.)
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Topics |
- Adult
- Afghan Campaign 2001-
- Algorithms
- Comorbidity
- Female
- Humans
- Iraq War, 2003-2011
- Male
- Multiple Trauma
(epidemiology)
- Retrospective Studies
- United States
- United States Department of Veterans Affairs
(statistics & numerical data)
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