Journal article
Self-reported illness and health status among Gulf War veterans: a population-based study
JAMA : the journal of the American Medical Association, Vol.277(3), pp.238-245
01/15/1997
DOI: 10.1001/jama.1997.03540270064028
PMID: 9005274
Abstract
Objective.--To assess the prevalence of self-reported symptoms and illnesses among military personnel deployed during the Persian Gulf War (PGW) and to compare the prevalence of these conditions with the prevalence among military personnel on active duty at the same time, but not deployed to the Persian Gulf (non-PGW). Design.--Cross-sectional telephone interview survey of PGW and non-PGW military personnel. The study instrument consisted of validated questions, validated questionnaires, and investigator-derived questions designed to assess relevant medical and psychiatric conditions. Setting.--Population-based sample of military personnel from Iowa. Study Participants.--A total of 4886 study subjects were randomly selected from 1 of 4 study domains (PGW regular military, PGW National Guard/Reserve, non-PGW regular military, and non-PGW National Guard/Reserve), stratifying for age, sex, race, rank, and branch of military service. Main Outcome Measures.--Self-reported symptoms and symptoms of medical illnesses and psychiatric conditions. Results.--Overall, 3695 eligible study subjects (76%) and 91% of the located subjects completed the telephone interview. Compared with non-PGW military personnel, PGW military personnel reported a significantly higher prevalence of symptoms of depression (17.0% vs 10.9%; Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test statistic, P<.001), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (1.9% vs 0.8%, P=.007), chronic fatigue (1.3% vs 0.3%, P<.001), cognitive dysfunction (18.7% vs 7.6%, P<.001), bronchitis (3.7% vs 2.7%, P<.001 ), asthma (7.2% vs 4.1%, P=.004), fibromyalgia (19.2% vs 9.6%, P<.001), alcohol abuse (17.4% vs 12.6%, P=.02), anxiety (4.0% vs 1.8%, P<.001 ), and sexual discomfort (respondent, 1.5% vs 1.1%, P=.009; respondent's female partner, 5.1% vs 2.4%, P<.001). Assessment of health-related quality of life demonstrated diminished mental and physical functioning scores for PGW military personnel. In almost all cases, larger differences between PGW and non-PGW military personnel were observed in the National Guard/Reserve comparison. Within the PGW military study population, compared with veterans in the regular military, veterans in the National Guard/Reserve only reported more symptoms of chronic fatigue (2.9% vs 1.0%, P=.03) and alcohol abuse (19.4% vs 17.0%, P=.004). Conclusions.--Military personnel who participated in the PGW have a higher self-reported prevalence of medical and psychiatric conditions than contemporary military personnel who were not deployed to the Persian Gulf. These findings establish the need to further investigate the potential etiologic, clinical, pathogenic, and public health implications of the increased prevalence of multiple medical and psychiatric conditions in populations of military personnel deployed to the Persian Gulf. JAMA. 1997;277:238-245
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Self-reported illness and health status among Gulf War veterans: a population-based study
- Creators
- Bradley N DoebbelingRoger G KatholJames A Merchant - University of Iowa, Occupational and Environmental HealthJohn R KellyDrue H BarrettBruce M Pfohl - University of Iowa, PsychiatryDonald W Black - University of Iowa, PsychiatryWarren W PietteLeon F BurmeisterTerri L SnydersPatricia Quinlisk - University of Iowa, EpidemiologyPeter S Thorne - University of Iowa, Occupational and Environmental HealthWilliam R ClarkeJames C Torner - University of Iowa, EpidemiologyJames E RohrerRobert F WoolsonKenneth H FalterZuhair K Ballas - University of Iowa, Internal MedicineNancy L Sprince - University of Iowa, Occupational and Environmental HealthJoseph Barrash - University of Iowa, Iowa Neuroscience InstitutePhillip M TalboyThomas B CasaleDaniel B HallElizabeth Chrischilles - University of Iowa, EpidemiologyMartha F JonesHenry FalkCraig Zwerling - University of IowaMichael D HansenKenneth G Saag - University of Alabama at BirminghamDavid A Schwartz - University of Colorado DenverIowa Persian Gulf Study Group
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- JAMA : the journal of the American Medical Association, Vol.277(3), pp.238-245
- DOI
- 10.1001/jama.1997.03540270064028
- PMID
- 9005274
- NLM abbreviation
- JAMA
- ISSN
- 0098-7484
- eISSN
- 1538-3598
- Publisher
- American Medical Association
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 01/15/1997
- Description audience
- Academic
- Academic Unit
- Neurology; Pharmacy; Psychiatry; Psychological and Brain Sciences; Biostatistics; Injury Prevention Research Center; Immunology; Statistics and Actuarial Science; Civil and Environmental Engineering; Occupational and Environmental Health; Epidemiology; Iowa Neuroscience Institute; Center On Aging; Neurosurgery; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984203346302771
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