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Veterans with depression, CVD face greater barriers to care
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Veterans diagnosed with depression and CVD were more likely to have difficulty affording health care and to delay seeking medical care, according to findings presented at the American Heart Association’s Quality of Care and Outcomes Research Scientific Sessions.
Puja Parikh, MD, MPH, an interventional cardiologist and assistant professor at Stony Brook School of Medicine, New York, and director of invasive cardiology at the Northport Veterans Affairs Medical Center, New York, and colleagues used data from the CDC’s 2013 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey.
Veterans (n = 13,126) who reported being told they had MI, stroke or angina/CHD by a health professional were included in the study.
Of the participants, 22% reported having been diagnosed with depression. Veterans with depression were more likely to be younger, female and nonwhite and less likely to be married, employed or a homeowner.
Veterans with heart disease and depression were twice as likely to report difficulty affording medical care (OR = 1.96; 95% CI, 1.45-2.65) and twice as likely to report delays in seeking medical care (OR = 2.07; 95% CI, 1.65-2.6) compared with veterans with heart disease but without depression. Additionally, they were more likely to report difficulty affording prescription drugs (OR = 1.45; 95% CI, 1.02-2.08).
Those with depression were less likely to use aspirin (P = .0003) and antihypertensive medications (P < .0001) than those without depression, but there was no difference between the groups in frequency of cholesterol check, blood glucose testing and receipt of an influenza shot, according to the researchers.
The survey did not discern whether the veterans received care at Department of Veterans Affairs facilities or other facilities.
“All health care providers who treat veterans with depression should routinely ask their patients about any difficulty with being able to pay for medical care or medications,” Parikh said in a press release. “In some cases, less expensive medications can be considered and 90-day supply of drugs can be prescribed instead of a 30-day supply, which can reduce costs. We can also recommend working with a social worker to obtain vouchers or coupons from pharmaceutical companies to get further financial assistance with medication costs.” – by Cassie Homer
Reference:
Parikh P, et al. Presentation 138. Presented at: American Heart Association Quality of Care and Outcomes Research Scientific Sessions; April 2-3, 2017; Arlington, Va.
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.