Social Determinants of Health, Depression, and Cardiovascular Health Among Veterans and Civilians: Insights From the 2013–2018 and 2021–2023 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

PEER REVIEWED

The starting sample was 41,333 participants from 2013–2018 and 2021–2023 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data. After excluding 16,467 participants aged 19 or younger, 24,866 remained. After excluding 382 women who were pregnant or breastfeeding, 24,484 remained. After excluding 2,898 participants with self-reported cardiovascular disease history (defined as coronary heart disease, angina, heart attack, congestive heart failure, or stroke), 21,586 remained. After excluding 10,190 participants with missing data in any study variable, the total analytic sample was 11,396 participants. The flow diagram lists reasons for exclusion due to missing data: depression (n = 4,211), poverty–income ratio (n = 2,790), education (n = 44), marital status (n = 34), employment (n = 19), health insurance (n = 16), veteran status (n = 13), and cardiovascular health components (n = 4,172), including diet (n = 1,160), blood pressure (n = 1,159), smoking (n = 1,104), glucose (n = 1,037), non–high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (n = 844), body mass index (n = 117), sleep (n = 64), and physical activity (n = 49). The sum of individual missing variable counts exceeded the total excluded for missing data (n = 10,190) due to overlap among participants missing more than 1 variable.

Figure. Participant selection flow diagram, analysis of social determinants, depression, and cardiovascular health among veterans and civilians aged 20 years or older, 2013–2018 and 2021–2023 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Return to Article

Top