Table 1.
Bivariate Analysis of Demographic Characteristics, Health Service Use, and Mental Health Diagnoses With Nicotine Dependence Among Veterans,a 2008-2009
| Characteristic/Use/Diagnosis | All VA Service Users, n (%) (N = 5,031,381) | VA Service Users With Nicotine Dependence, n (%) (n = 749,353) | Likelihood of Being Diagnosed With Nicotine Dependence, OR (95% CI)b |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sex | |||
| Male | 4,745,729 (94.3) | 708,256 (14.9) | 1.0 (1.0-1.1) |
| Female | 285,652 (5.7) | 41,097 (14.4) | 1 [Reference] |
| Veteran status | |||
| OIF/OEF | 200,300 (4.0) | 30,297 (15.1) | 1.0 (1.0-1.0) |
| Other war eras | 4,831,081 (96.0) | 719,056 (14.9) | 1 [Reference] |
| Homeless status | |||
| Homeless | 120,234 (2.4) | 47,252 (39.3) | 3.9 (3.8-3.9) |
| Not homeless | 4,911,147 (97.6) | 702,101 (14.3) | 1 [Reference] |
| Age, yb | |||
| <40 | 548,827 (10.0) | 77,549 (14.1) | 0.9 (0.9-0.9) |
| Not <40 | 4,482,554 (89.1) | 671,804 (15.0) | 1 [Reference] |
| 40-49 | 474,444 (9.4) | 99,805 (21.0) | 1.6 (1.6-1.6) |
| Not 40-49 | 4,556,937 (90.6) | 649,548 (14.3) | 1 [Reference] |
| 50-64 | 1,855,142 (36.9) | 417,610 (22.5) | 2.5 (2.5-2.5) |
| Not 50-64 | 3,176,239 (63.1) | 331,743 (10.4) | 1 [Reference] |
| 65-74 | 931,971 (18.5) | 107,565 (11.5) | 0.7 (0.7-0.7) |
| Not 65-74 | 4,099,410 (81.6) | 641,788 (15.7) | 1 [Reference] |
| 75-85 | 975,536 (19.4) | 42,806 (4.4) | 0.2 (0.2-0.2) |
| Not 75-85 | 4,055,845 (80.6) | 706,547 (17.4) | 1 [Reference] |
| >85 | 245,461 (4.9) | 4018 (1.6) | 0.1 (0.1-0.1) |
| Not >85 | 4,785,920 (95.1) | 745,335 (15.6) | 1 [Reference] |
| Race/ethnicity | |||
| White/unknown | 4,667,988 (92.8) | 683,919 (14.6) | 0.8 (0.8-0.8) |
| Not white/unknown | 363,393 (7.2) | 65,434 (18.0) | 1 [Reference] |
| Black | 269,618 (5.4) | 54,278 (20.1) | 1.5 (1.5-1.5) |
| Not black | 4,761,763 (94.6) | 695,075 (14.6) | 1 [Reference] |
| Hispanic | 101,633 (2.0) | 12,271 (12.1) | 0.8 (0.8-0.8) |
| Not Hispanic | 4,929,748 (98.0) | 737,082 (15.0) | 1 [Reference] |
| Urban/rural residence | |||
| Urban | 3,403,266 (70.0) | 492,611 (14.5) | 0.7 (0.7-0.8) |
| Not urban | 1,456,514 (28.9) | 235,919 (16.2) | 1 [Reference] |
| Large rural | 596,785 (12.3) | 96,631 (16.2) | 1.3 (1.3-1.3) |
| Not large rural | 4,755,606 (94.5) | 631,899 (13.3) | 1 [Reference] |
| Small rural | 479,733 (9.9) | 77,951 (16.2 | 1.3 (1.2-1.3) |
| Not small rural | 4,872,658 (96.8) | 650,579 (13.4) | 1 [Reference] |
| Isolated rural | 379,996 (7.8) | 61,337 (16.1) | 1.2 (1.2-1.3) |
| Not isolated rural | 4,972,395 (98.8) | 667,193 (13.4) | 1 [Reference] |
| Annual income, $ | |||
| <7,000 | 1,684,080 (33.5) | 224,110 (13.3) | 0.8 (0.8-0.8) |
| Not <7,000 | 3,347,301 (66.5) | 525,243 (15.7) | 1 [Reference] |
| 7,000-14,999 | 863,429 (17.2) | 174,188 (20.2) | 1.6 (1.6-1.6) |
| Not 7,000-14,999 | 4,167,952 (82.8) | 575,165 (13.8) | 1 [Reference] |
| 15,000-24,999 | 620,426 (12.3) | 101,087 (16.3) | 1.1 (1.1-1.1) |
| Not 15,000-24,999 | 4,410,955 (87.7) | 648,266 (14.7) | 1 [Reference] |
| ≥25,000 | 1,863,446 (37.0) | 249,968 (13.4) | 0.8 (0.8-0.8) |
| Not ≥25,000 | 3,167,935 (63.0) | 499,385 (15.8) | 1 [Reference] |
| Disability status | |||
| Not service-connected | 3,212,820 (63.8) | 479,899 (14.9) | 0.9 (0.9-0.9) |
| Service-connected | 1,818,561 (36.1) | 269,454 (14.8) | 1 [Reference] |
| Service-connected, <50% disabled | 943,456 (18.8) | 128,361 (13.6) | 1.0 (1.0-1.0) |
| Not service-connected, <50% disabled | 4,567,824 (90.8) | 620,992 (13.6) | 1 [Reference] |
| Service-connected, ≥50% disabled | 875,105 (17.4) | 141,093 (16.1) | 1.3 (1.3-1.3) |
| Not service-connected, ≥50% disabled | 4,636,175 (92.1) | 608,260 (13.1) | 1 [Reference] |
| Mental health service use | |||
| Any | 1,102,846 (21.9) | 281,266 (25.5) | 2.5 (2.5-2.5) |
| None | 3,928,535 (78.1) | 468,087 (11.9) | 1 [Reference] |
| Mental health diagnosis | |||
| Dementia | 58,157 (1.2) | 3,226 (5.6) | 0.3 (0.3-0.3) |
| No dementia | 4,973,224 (98.8) | 746,127 (15.0) | 1 [Reference] |
| Schizophrenia | 91,228 (1.8) | 30,916 (33.4) | 3.0 (3.0-3.1) |
| No schizophrenia | 4,940,153 (98.2) | 718,437 (14.5) | 1 [Reference] |
| Bipolar disorder | 102,636 (2.0) | 32,608 (31.8) | 2.7 (2.7-2.8) |
| No bipolar disorder | 4,928,745 (98.0) | 716,745 (14.5) | 1 [Reference] |
| Major depression | 251,560 (5.0) | 64,732 (25.7) | 2.1 (2.1-2.1) |
| No major depression | 4,779,821 (95.0) | 684,621 (14.3) | 1 [Reference] |
| Anxiety disorderc | 365,270 (7.3) | 87,406 (23.9) | 1.9 (1.9-1.9) |
| No anxiety disorder | 4,666,111 (92.7) | 661,947 (14.2) | 1 [Reference] |
| PTSD | 494,202 (9.8) | 118,495 (24.0) | 2.0 (1.9-2.0) |
| No PTSD | 4,537,179 | 630,858 (13.9) | 1 [Reference] |
| Alcohol use disorder | 301,214 (6.0) | 138,495 (46.0) | 5.7 (5.7-5.8) |
| No alcohol use disorder | 4,730,167 (94.0) | 610,858 (12.9) | 1 [Reference] |
| Drug use disorder | 196,268 (3.9) | 91,249 (46.5) | 5.5 (5.5-5.6) |
| No drug use disorder | 4,835,113 (96.1) | 658,104 (13.6) | 1 [Reference] |
| Personality disorder | 43,176 (0.9) | 14,869 (34.4) | 3.0 (3.0-3.1) |
| No personality disorder | 4,988,205 (99.1) | 734,484 (14.7) | 1 [Reference] |
Abbreviations: VA, Veterans Affairs; OR, odds ratio; CI, confidence interval; OEF/OIF, Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom; PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder.
a
Among veterans who used the US Department of Veterans Affairs health system.
b
OR for age represents odds with every increase of 10 years.
c
Excludes PTSD.