The abstract is read at the publisher; the summary is JClub's.
Veterans receiving Department of Veterans Affairs care often achieve cardiovascular health outcomes equal to or better than non-Veterans Affairs counterparts, reflecting strengths in coordinated, team-based delivery.
- Why it matters: Veterans face a high burden of cardiovascular risk and low attainment of ideal cardiovascular health due to service-shaped demographics, comorbidities, and social determinants.
- What they did: The American Heart Association applies Life’s Essential 8, expanded to include mental health and substance use, reviewing guideline recommendations, barriers, and key VA programs including Patient Aligned Care Teams, MOVE!, Whole Health, telehealth, and integrated mental health/substance use services.
- The result: Progress is substantial, but gaps remain in lifestyle behaviors, metabolic health, lipid and blood pressure control, mental health and substance use engagement, and sleep disorder detection and management, implying VA-focused access expansion, digital data integration, subgroup tailoring, and stronger implementation.
The findingWhy it mattersWhat they didThe result
AI summary of the abstract · may contain errors · not medical advice · read the paper.