Use of preventive heath care services by males: Comparison of veterans with multiple sclerosis, the general veteran population, and the general population

Objective: To assess preventive care use by male veterans with MS (VMS) compared with non-MS male cohorts.

Design: Cross-sectional survey compared with CDC BRFSS. Bivariate comparisons were made and multivariate analyses were used to identify variables with an impact on service use by VMS. VMS (n=1,142); general veteran (GV) (n=31,500) and general population (GP) (n=68,357).

Results: More VMS (>35 years) had a 5 year-cholesterol check than GV (89%, p<0.0001) or GP (78%, p<0.0001). More VMS >50 had an influenza shot (67%) than GV (58%, p<0.0001) or GP (42%, p<0.0001). More VMS (81%) than GV (67%) and GP (51%) ever received a pneumonia shot (p's <0.0001). A 5-year colon test was received by 55% of VMS, 49% of GV (p=0.0003), and 39% of GP (p<0.0001). More VMS than GP had a PSA test in the past year (51% vs. 46%, p=0.0036), but receipt of PSA and DRE did not differ. Less VMS than Independently associated with cholesterol check was being white (OR=3.71) and living in the south (OR=1.97); dental care: smoker (OR=0.50) and age at MS diagnosis (OR=0.98); influenza vaccination: age (OR=1.03) and smoker (OR=0.55); 5-year colon screening > 50: age (OR=1.02); PSA: increased age (OR=1.08), married (1.46), employed (OR=2.17), and living in the south (OR=1.46).

Conclusions: Greater proportions of VMS than both GV and GP received services suggesting that VA is meeting needs in VMS; but there may be room for improvement in areas e.g., PSA , colon. Many factors need consideration when examining associations; warranting further study of each service.