Journal of general internal medicine
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High blood pressure is the most common chronic condition among US veterans. Blood pressure control is essential to preventing and managing cardiovascular diseases. While depressive symptoms are a known risk factor for uncontrolled blood pressure and veterans experience high rates of depressive symptoms, no research has examined the relationship between depressive symptoms and blood pressure control among US veterans. ⋯ US veterans with moderately severe-to-severe depressive symptoms were less likely to have uncontrolled blood pressure than veterans with none-to-minimal symptoms. Future research should examine factors unique to veterans that may explain findings opposite of the hypothesized relationship between depressive symptoms and blood pressure control.
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Although social factors influence uptake of preventive services, the association between social needs and influenza vaccination has not been comprehensively evaluated for adults seeking primary care in the USA. ⋯ Transportation vulnerability, health literacy, smoking, age, sex, race, comorbidity, and office visit frequency are associated with influenza vaccination. Primary care-led interventions should consider these factors when designing outreach interventions.