Research & Development, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA.
Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2022 Jun 1;17:1269-1283. doi: 10.2147/COPD.S339323. eCollection 2022.
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated healthcare system in the United States (US) providing healthcare to an increasing number of middle-aged and older adults who remain at greater risk for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) compared to their civilian counterparts. The VHA has obligated research funds, drafted clinical guidelines, and built programmatic infrastructure to support the diagnosis, treatment, and care management of Veterans with COPD. Despite these efforts, COPD remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Veterans. This paper provides a narrative review of research conducted with US Veteran samples targeting improvement in COPD outcomes. We review key physiological, physical, and psychological health outcomes and intervention research that included US Veteran samples. We conclude with a discussion of directions for future research to continue advancing the treatment of COPD in Veterans and inform advancements in COPD research within and outside the VHA.
退伍军人健康管理局（VHA）是美国最大的综合性医疗保健系统，为越来越多的中年和老年人提供医疗保健，与平民相比，这些人患慢性阻塞性肺疾病（COPD）的风险更高。VHA 已经拨出研究资金，起草临床指南，并建立项目基础设施，以支持 COPD 退伍军人的诊断、治疗和护理管理。尽管做出了这些努力，COPD 仍然是退伍军人发病率和死亡率的主要原因。本文对针对改善 COPD 结果的美国退伍军人样本进行的研究进行了叙述性综述。我们回顾了包括美国退伍军人样本在内的关键生理、身体和心理健康结果以及干预研究。最后，我们讨论了未来研究的方向，以继续推进退伍军人 COPD 的治疗，并为 VHA 内外的 COPD 研究提供信息。
