Extending Service Beyond Active Duty: Generalizability of Rheumatoid Arthritis Research Conducted Among US Veterans
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Biomedical research involving US veterans continues to advance health care beyond the Veterans Health Administration. This is particularly true in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), where veteran-centric research has uncovered novel insights into pathogenesis, risk factors, and disease manifestations, informing clinical care and research across both veteran and nonveteran populations. This includes clinical trials and epidemiologic studies in cardiovascular disease, frailty, glucocorticoid use and complications, malignancy, medication adherence, mental health, metabolic comorbidity, mortality, multimorbidity, osteoporosis, RA-associated interstitial lung disease, sex differences in treatment response, and smoking or other environmental interactions. Given the unique characteristics of the veteran population, the generalizability of veteran-centric research findings toward other populations has been questioned. Although there are certain exposures specific to the veteran population (eg, burn pits or toxic exposures), most RA research objectives in veterans, including those listed above, are equally relevant to the nonveteran population, and their generalizability across these groups should be carefully considered. The aim of this review is to compare findings between veteran and nonveteran populations, demonstrating and supporting the generalizability of this research.
Source: Arthritis Care & Research
DOI: 10.1002/acr.80145
Authors: Austin M. Wheeler, Joshua F. Baker, Jennifer L. Barton, Maria I. Danila, Tate M. Johnson, Kamini Kuchinad, Kaleb Michaud, Amir A. Razmjou, J. Steuart Richards, Namrata Singh, Isaac D. Smith, Katherine D. Wysham, Grant W. Cannon, Bryant R. England, Amy Joseph, Deana Lazaro, Katherine P. Liao, Courtney Loecker, Andreas Reimold, Beth I. Wallace, Ted R. Mikuls
Institutions: VA Nebraska Western Iowa Health Care System, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Philadelphia VA Medical Center, University of Pennsylvania, Oregon Health & Science University, VA Portland Health Care System, University of Alabama at Birmingham, The National Databank for Rheumatic Diseases, University of California, Los Angeles, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, University of Washington, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Duke University Hospital, University of Utah, VA Salt Lake City Healthcare System, Washington University in St. Louis, VA St. Louis Health Care System, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, VA NY Harbor Healthcare System, Brigham and Women's Hospital, VA Boston Healthcare System, Dallas VA Medical Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, University of Michigan, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor VA Medical Center
Language: English
Subfield: Rheumatology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,640
Awards: G1802581489, G2000553402, G3526771996, G3800364913, G4735861120, G6445281850, G6539622520, G6852297332, G7403668190, G7435849696, Impact of rheumatoid arthritis on survival in older adults with cancer, G9000373944, G9000850440, G9000850586, G9000851744, Improving shared decision-making around the use of disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and cancer, VERITY: Value and Evidence in Rheumatology using bioInformaTics, and advanced analYtics
OpenAlex ID: W7203671541