The VHAS investigates exposure to armed conflict during the Vietnam War and the health
and aging of Vietnamese war survivors
VHAS is a longitudinal study that combines an omnibus survey with biomarker collection.
For a complete description of study methodology see:
Study Documentation
The survey was administered in face-to-face interviews and included modules detailing war and military service experiences; warzone stressors; and multiple dimensions of health such as chronic disease, functional limitation, disability, health behaviors, cognition, and psychological health; chronic and major life event stressors; and family and social relationships. See below for the complete text of the survey.
Biomarker data collected for the full VHAS sample includes anthropometric and functional tests such as:
- grip strength and blood pressure
- hair samples for cortisol assay
- capillary blood samples to assay C-reactive protein
- cholesterol
- HbA1c
- other markers of interest for cardiovascular and other disease risks
All to construct a composite measure of physiological age.