engleski

Physical health and health related quality of life In combat war veterans in Croatia

Aim: Main objective of research was to examine physical health and health related Quality of Life in Croatian Combat War Veterans with and without PTSD. Methods: This survey included 1450 Croatian war veterans from all county. Demographic data Questionnaire, General Health Questionnaire, Social Support Questionnaire, SF 36 (health- related quality of life questionnaire), BDI (Beck Depression Inventory) were used for this purpose. Results: Median age was 52 years, and all participants were actively took part more than three years in war. Median age of participants at the time of Homeland War was 26 years (range: 19 years to 50 years). 45% had PTSD, but more than 95% of participants had some psychological problems related to traumatic experiences such as depressive disorder, sleeping disturbance. More than 60% had cardiovascular problems regardless of PTSD diagnosis. But 34% participants with PTSD had oncological disease in regards to participants without PTSP (9%). More than 70% were smokers and BMI was 29, 11. All participants were unsatisfied with their life and estimated their health as worse and had moderate depression (72%), but participants with PTSD were more depressed and had more suicidal ideation. According to general population, participants had social and emotional disturbance and disrupted psychological well- being. Although both groups of veterans (with PTSP and without PTSD) considerably evaluate to being lonelier than general population, participants with PTSD are significantly lonelier than non-PTSD participants. Both groups of veterans were mostly satisfied with the social support they received from family members and social community, but participants with PTSD were more dissatisfied with community support than non-PTSD. Although the health related quality of life of a veteran's was generally worse in relation to general population, PTSD participants had more severe bodily impairments, greater physical limitations and more physical pain than those without PTSD, and have more limitations because of emotional difficulties. PTSD participants had significantly more objective physical disabilities, primarily cardiovascular disease disorders and oncological disease compared to non-PTSD defenders. Conclusion: Exposure to traumatic events and having PTSD greatly lead to unhealthy lifestyle, impairing health related Quality of Life and make greater risk to developing life threatening disease such as cardiovascular and oncological.

health related Quality of Life ; physical health ; social support ; PTSD ; cardiovascular disease ; oncological disease

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