Cardiovascular Health Promotion for US Veterans: Current State, Gaps, and Strategies
Updated: November 11, 2026
- US Veterans make up more than 5% of the US adult population. Compared with the general US population, Veterans are older, have more comorbidities, and face unique structural barriers, including high rates of rural location and less internet access. With time, the makeup of Veterans is becoming increasingly diverse in race, ethnicity, age, gender, and military exposure history.
- Veterans receiving care in the Veterans Administration (VA) have higher rates of obesity, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and sleep disorders compared to the general population. Data from the Million Veteran Program show that fewer than 5% of Veterans achieve optimal cardiovascular health based on the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8 domains, which in turn has been associated with reduced life expectancy.
- Prominent aspects of VA care include its services targeting social determinants of health, extensive telehealth offerings, lifestyle and cardiometabolic programs, comprehensive sleep medicine care, intensive care for mental health conditions and substance use disorders, and long-term investments in Veteran-focused research. Preventive care is delivered through Patient Aligned Care Teams (PACTs), a team-based primary care model with access to in-clinic pharmacists, dietitians, behavioral health, social work, and specialty care. This model supports coordinated, proactive management of cardiometabolic risk factors, including medication titration, lifestyle counseling, social support, and longitudinal follow-up.