Datapoints: Trends in Mortality Among Homeless VA Patients With Severe Mental Illness

Both homelessness and severe mental illness are known to increase the likelihood of early mortality. We determined years of potential life lost (YPLL) over an 11-year period among Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) patients using homeless services, assessing for the impact of severe mental illness.

Using the VA National Patient Care Database (NPCD), we analyzed all-cause mortality for fiscal years (FYs) 2000–2009 among VA patients by severe mental illness status and use of VA homelessness services for each FY. All patients with a severe mental illness diagnosis from each FY were identified by ICD-9 codes. We also used NPCD data to identify a 5% random sample of individuals without a severe mental illness diagnosis for each FY. The primary analyses were hazard ratio calculations on all-cause mortality, comparing differences in YPLL adjusted for age and gender by homelessness and severe mental illness status.

Regardless of severe mental illness diagnosis, homeless veterans died younger than nonhomeless veterans in all years, with YPLL ranging from 18.9 to 24.3 (Figure 1). For nonhomeless veterans with and without severe mental illness, YPLL ranged from 9.1 to 14.0 years. Homeless veterans with severe mental illness had the greatest YPLL over time. Nonhomeless veterans with severe mental illness died younger than those without a severe mental illness. Using time-series analyses, we found a statistically significant increase in YPLL only for nonhomeless veterans without severe mental illness.

Overall, having a severe mental illness diagnosis increased YPLL regardless of housing status. Homelessness was an additional and more severe contributor to YPLL, above and beyond a severe mental illness diagnosis. Thus, in this study, homelessness had the strongest effects on YPLL. However, VA patients who were not homeless and who did not have a severe mental illness diagnosis were also dying younger over time. The VA has made ending homelessness among veterans a priority, with a particular focus on those with severe mental illness. Recent VA efforts to help homeless veterans and integrate services for those with severe mental illness may have offset this trend for these vulnerable populations. Further research is needed to assess the long-term impact of emerging initiatives, such as medical home models for homeless veterans and those with severe mental illness, on reducing the mortality gap.