Healthcare utilization following mild traumatic brain injury in female veterans

Thea J. Rogers; Bridget M. Smith; Frances M. Weaver; Shanti Ganesh; Karen L. Saban; Kevin T. Stroupe; Rachael N. Martinez; Charlesnika T. Evans; Theresa L.B. Pape

doi:10.3109/02699052.2014.919537

Healthcare utilization following mild traumatic brain injury in female veterans

Thea J. Rogers^*, Bridget M. Smith, Frances M. Weaver, Shanti Ganesh, Karen L. Saban, Kevin T. Stroupe, Rachael N. Martinez, Charlesnika T. Evans, Theresa L.B. Pape

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a significant problem for Veterans. Gender differences in mild TBI outcomes such as return-to-work, resolution of symptoms and mental health diagnoses have been reported. The purpose of the study is to characterize gender differences in VA healthcare utilization in the year following mild TBI diagnosis.

Methods: This was a retrospective database study of 12 144 Veterans diagnosed with mild TBI in fiscal year 2008 and their healthcare utilization in the following year.

Results: The mean age was 43.6 ± 17 and the majority were men (94.1%). Overall, women had more outpatient utilization than men with mild TBI (mean: 48 vs. 37 visits; p < 0.001). Adjusted analyses indicated that women had a rate of outpatient utilization 25% higher than men (IRR = 1.25, 95% CI = 1.17-1.33). It was found that 13.6% of the difference in outpatient utilization by gender could be explained by other factors such as race, age, marital status, geographic location and illness burden.

Conclusion: Male Veterans had less outpatient utilization than females in the year following mild TBI diagnosis. Gender and other factors only accounted for a small portion of the differences observed; therefore, gender only partially accounts for differences in healthcare utilization following mild TBI.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	1406-1412
Number of pages	7
Journal	Brain Injury
Volume	28
Issue number	11
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3109/02699052.2014.919537
State	Published - Oct 1 2014

Funding

The authors report no conflicts of interest. This study was supported by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Research and Development, Health Services Research and Development Service as grant IIR 07-188-3. The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the Department of Veterans Affairs or the United States government.

Keywords

Administrative data
Healthcare utilization
Traumatic brain injury
Women veterans

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Clinical Neurology
Developmental and Educational Psychology
Neuroscience (miscellaneous)

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10.3109/02699052.2014.919537

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title = "Healthcare utilization following mild traumatic brain injury in female veterans",

abstract = "Background: Mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a significant problem for Veterans. Gender differences in mild TBI outcomes such as return-to-work, resolution of symptoms and mental health diagnoses have been reported. The purpose of the study is to characterize gender differences in VA healthcare utilization in the year following mild TBI diagnosis.Methods: This was a retrospective database study of 12 144 Veterans diagnosed with mild TBI in fiscal year 2008 and their healthcare utilization in the following year.Results: The mean age was 43.6 ± 17 and the majority were men (94.1%). Overall, women had more outpatient utilization than men with mild TBI (mean: 48 vs. 37 visits; p < 0.001). Adjusted analyses indicated that women had a rate of outpatient utilization 25% higher than men (IRR = 1.25, 95% CI = 1.17-1.33). It was found that 13.6% of the difference in outpatient utilization by gender could be explained by other factors such as race, age, marital status, geographic location and illness burden.Conclusion: Male Veterans had less outpatient utilization than females in the year following mild TBI diagnosis. Gender and other factors only accounted for a small portion of the differences observed; therefore, gender only partially accounts for differences in healthcare utilization following mild TBI.",

keywords = "Administrative data, Healthcare utilization, Traumatic brain injury, Women veterans",

author = "Rogers, {Thea J.} and Smith, {Bridget M.} and Weaver, {Frances M.} and Shanti Ganesh and Saban, {Karen L.} and Stroupe, {Kevin T.} and Martinez, {Rachael N.} and Evans, {Charlesnika T.} and Pape, {Theresa L.B.}",

note = "Funding Information: The authors report no conflicts of interest. This study was supported by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Research and Development, Health Services Research and Development Service as grant IIR 07-188-3. The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the Department of Veterans Affairs or the United States government. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2014 Informa UK Ltd.",

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doi = "10.3109/02699052.2014.919537",

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AU - Rogers, Thea J.

AU - Smith, Bridget M.

AU - Weaver, Frances M.

AU - Ganesh, Shanti

AU - Saban, Karen L.

AU - Stroupe, Kevin T.

AU - Martinez, Rachael N.

AU - Evans, Charlesnika T.

AU - Pape, Theresa L.B.

N1 - Funding Information: The authors report no conflicts of interest. This study was supported by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Research and Development, Health Services Research and Development Service as grant IIR 07-188-3. The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the Department of Veterans Affairs or the United States government. Publisher Copyright: © 2014 Informa UK Ltd.

PY - 2014/10/1

Y1 - 2014/10/1

N2 - Background: Mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a significant problem for Veterans. Gender differences in mild TBI outcomes such as return-to-work, resolution of symptoms and mental health diagnoses have been reported. The purpose of the study is to characterize gender differences in VA healthcare utilization in the year following mild TBI diagnosis.Methods: This was a retrospective database study of 12 144 Veterans diagnosed with mild TBI in fiscal year 2008 and their healthcare utilization in the following year.Results: The mean age was 43.6 ± 17 and the majority were men (94.1%). Overall, women had more outpatient utilization than men with mild TBI (mean: 48 vs. 37 visits; p < 0.001). Adjusted analyses indicated that women had a rate of outpatient utilization 25% higher than men (IRR = 1.25, 95% CI = 1.17-1.33). It was found that 13.6% of the difference in outpatient utilization by gender could be explained by other factors such as race, age, marital status, geographic location and illness burden.Conclusion: Male Veterans had less outpatient utilization than females in the year following mild TBI diagnosis. Gender and other factors only accounted for a small portion of the differences observed; therefore, gender only partially accounts for differences in healthcare utilization following mild TBI.

AB - Background: Mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a significant problem for Veterans. Gender differences in mild TBI outcomes such as return-to-work, resolution of symptoms and mental health diagnoses have been reported. The purpose of the study is to characterize gender differences in VA healthcare utilization in the year following mild TBI diagnosis.Methods: This was a retrospective database study of 12 144 Veterans diagnosed with mild TBI in fiscal year 2008 and their healthcare utilization in the following year.Results: The mean age was 43.6 ± 17 and the majority were men (94.1%). Overall, women had more outpatient utilization than men with mild TBI (mean: 48 vs. 37 visits; p < 0.001). Adjusted analyses indicated that women had a rate of outpatient utilization 25% higher than men (IRR = 1.25, 95% CI = 1.17-1.33). It was found that 13.6% of the difference in outpatient utilization by gender could be explained by other factors such as race, age, marital status, geographic location and illness burden.Conclusion: Male Veterans had less outpatient utilization than females in the year following mild TBI diagnosis. Gender and other factors only accounted for a small portion of the differences observed; therefore, gender only partially accounts for differences in healthcare utilization following mild TBI.

KW - Administrative data

KW - Healthcare utilization

KW - Traumatic brain injury

KW - Women veterans

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Healthcare utilization following mild traumatic brain injury in female veterans

Abstract

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Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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