A recently-released report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that veterans are more likely than the civilian population to be managing multiple chronic conditions. The study found that as many as one in five veterans between the ages of 45 and 54 have at least two chronic conditions, WebMD reports.
The statistics are from the National Health Interview Survey, which was conducted between 2007 and 2010. While it found middle-age vets have more chronic conditions than civilians, such was not the case for younger veterans, who had about the same level as those who had never served. Experts believe the physical and psychological effects of combat may take years to manifest themselves as health problems.
"The health differences that appear at older ages suggest that the effects of military service on health may appear later in life," the study stated.
The results could apply to a relatively large section of the population. According to the CDC, about 12 million men between 25 and 64 are service veterans. That's about 15 percent of the total male population in that age range.