Diagnostic differences between military veterans and non-veterans: data from the United States National ALS Registry.

Background and Aim: Veterans in the U.S. have been reported to have a higher risk of developing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) than the general population. However, it is unclear whether veterans experience differences in symptom recognition, diagnostic timing or access to care. This study examined differences reported in clinical characteristics and diagnostic trajectories between male veteran (MV) and non-veteran male (NVM) ALS patients enrolled in the U.S. National ALS Registry.

Methods

We conducted a propensity score-matched analysis using self-administered military and clinical surveys from 2014 to 2024. Among 2,891 male ALS patients, MV were matched 1:1 with NVM on smoking history, birth year, head injury history, and region of residence at diagnosis. Outcomes included reported symptoms, time from symptom onset to diagnosis, and time to selected interventions.

Results

Overall, 802 MV were matched to 802 NVM. Veterans were older at and reported longer intervals from symptom onset to ALS diagnosis (20.8 vs 16.7 months, p = 0.0004). MV were more likely to report difficulty swallowing and falls. Veterans were also more likely to use noninvasive breathing equipment (p = 0.0322). Findings from time-to-event analyses showed MV received wheelchairs or scooters statically earlier than NMV (log-rank p = 0.0028).

Conclusions

Among participants in the Registry, MV reported differences in diagnostic timing, symptoms, and the use of supportive interventions compared to NVM. These findings may reflect differences in healthcare access, care pathways, and disease recognition over intrinsic differences in ALS biology. Because Registry participation is voluntary and data are self-reported, the result may not be generalizable to the broader ALS population.