Authors' Affiliations

Emmanuel Angmorteh Mensah, Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, College of Public Health, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, USA Aroh Valentine Elochukwu, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), Enugu. Adetayo Folasole, Department of Computing, College of Business and Technology, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, USA

Location

D.P. Culp Center Ballroom

Start Date

4-5-2024 9:00 AM

End Date

4-5-2024 11:30 AM

Poster Number

42

Name of Project's Faculty Sponsor

Shimin Zheng

Faculty Sponsor's Department

Biostatistics and Epidemiology

Classification of First Author

Graduate Student-Master’s

Competition Type

Competitive

Type

Poster Presentation

Presentation Category

Health

Abstract or Artist's Statement

Arthritis stands as a widespread chronic inflammatory condition, posing as the leading cause of persistent pain and functional limitations in older individuals. Given the growing diversity within the U.S. military veteran community, it becomes imperative to gauge the prevalence of arthritis. Among veterans in the United States, 34.7% of men and 31.9% of women were afflicted by arthritis. Notably, male veterans exhibited double the arthritis prevalence compared to nonveterans in the same age bracket, with a 30% higher prevalence observed among men aged 45–64. Among women, veterans showcased a 60% higher arthritis prevalence in the 18–44 age group and a 20% higher prevalence in the 45–64 age group compared to nonveterans. In light of these statistics, this study aimed to explore the prevalence of arthritis and its correlation with age, diabetes, depressive disorder, income, BMI, access to healthcare, physical activity, and alcohol consumption among veterans residing in the Appalachian region of the United States. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted utilizing data from the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). Employing SAS software, a weighted frequency distribution was executed to assess the characteristics under scrutiny. Subsequently, a chi-square test was administered to ascertain any correlations between arthritis and potential predictors. Variables demonstrating significance with arthritis at a p-value of 0.05 were subjected to complex survey bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. The study encompassed 18,487 respondents aged 18 years and above. Notably, the prevalence of arthritis among veterans in the Appalachian Region was determined to be 39.27% (95% CI: 38.06–40.47%). Following adjustments, demographic factors linked with arthritis among veterans in this region included ages 45-64 and 65 and older, with adjusted odds ratios (AOR) of 0.32 (95% CI=0.26-0.39) and 0.19 (95% CI=0.16-0.24) respectively, compared to those younger than 45(18-44). Additionally, individuals with lower (AOR=1.42, 95% CI=1.127-1.782) and middle (AOR=1.944, 95% CI=1.590-2.376) income levels exhibited lower odds of arthritis compared to upper income earners. Interestingly, the study revealed that being overweight (AOR=0.432, 95% CI=0.218-0.856) and obese (AOR=0.306, 95% CI=0.155-0.604) were associated with reduced odds of arthritis compared to normal weight. However, no statistically significant relationships were observed between arthritis and alcohol consumption, physical activity, or race. Public health practitioners encounter a significant challenge in effectively managing arthritis due to limited awareness of specific variables in certain regions. Factors such as depressive disorders, diabetes, and higher income are linked to increased susceptibility to arthritis. The intricate relationship between being overweight, obese, and arthritis necessitates comprehensive investigation. The study underscores the necessity for ongoing research to enhance comprehension of the intricate interplay between localized factors and arthritis. It advocates for a holistic approach to both managing and preventing the disease.

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Apr 5th, 9:00 AM Apr 5th, 11:30 AM

Examining the Prevalence and Factors Influencing Arthritis among Veterans in the Appalachian Region of the United States

D.P. Culp Center Ballroom

Arthritis stands as a widespread chronic inflammatory condition, posing as the leading cause of persistent pain and functional limitations in older individuals. Given the growing diversity within the U.S. military veteran community, it becomes imperative to gauge the prevalence of arthritis. Among veterans in the United States, 34.7% of men and 31.9% of women were afflicted by arthritis. Notably, male veterans exhibited double the arthritis prevalence compared to nonveterans in the same age bracket, with a 30% higher prevalence observed among men aged 45–64. Among women, veterans showcased a 60% higher arthritis prevalence in the 18–44 age group and a 20% higher prevalence in the 45–64 age group compared to nonveterans. In light of these statistics, this study aimed to explore the prevalence of arthritis and its correlation with age, diabetes, depressive disorder, income, BMI, access to healthcare, physical activity, and alcohol consumption among veterans residing in the Appalachian region of the United States. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted utilizing data from the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). Employing SAS software, a weighted frequency distribution was executed to assess the characteristics under scrutiny. Subsequently, a chi-square test was administered to ascertain any correlations between arthritis and potential predictors. Variables demonstrating significance with arthritis at a p-value of 0.05 were subjected to complex survey bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. The study encompassed 18,487 respondents aged 18 years and above. Notably, the prevalence of arthritis among veterans in the Appalachian Region was determined to be 39.27% (95% CI: 38.06–40.47%). Following adjustments, demographic factors linked with arthritis among veterans in this region included ages 45-64 and 65 and older, with adjusted odds ratios (AOR) of 0.32 (95% CI=0.26-0.39) and 0.19 (95% CI=0.16-0.24) respectively, compared to those younger than 45(18-44). Additionally, individuals with lower (AOR=1.42, 95% CI=1.127-1.782) and middle (AOR=1.944, 95% CI=1.590-2.376) income levels exhibited lower odds of arthritis compared to upper income earners. Interestingly, the study revealed that being overweight (AOR=0.432, 95% CI=0.218-0.856) and obese (AOR=0.306, 95% CI=0.155-0.604) were associated with reduced odds of arthritis compared to normal weight. However, no statistically significant relationships were observed between arthritis and alcohol consumption, physical activity, or race. Public health practitioners encounter a significant challenge in effectively managing arthritis due to limited awareness of specific variables in certain regions. Factors such as depressive disorders, diabetes, and higher income are linked to increased susceptibility to arthritis. The intricate relationship between being overweight, obese, and arthritis necessitates comprehensive investigation. The study underscores the necessity for ongoing research to enhance comprehension of the intricate interplay between localized factors and arthritis. It advocates for a holistic approach to both managing and preventing the disease.