BACKGROUND: Following the 1990-1991 Gulf War, Gulf War veterans (veterans) reported health symptoms more commonly than non-deployed groups. This article examines symptom persistence, incidence and prevalence 20 years on. METHODS: In 2000-2003 and 2011-2012, a 63-item symptom checklist was administered to 697 veterans and 659 comparison group. Symptomatology was compared using log-binomial regression. RESULTS: Both veterans and comparison group reported significantly increased prevalence (3-52%) over time in more than half the symptoms, with a similar overall rate of increase. Half the symptoms had higher incidence (risk-ratios ranged 1.43-1.50) and a quarter were more persistent (risk-ratios ranged 1.12-1.20) in veterans than the comparison group. CONCLUSIONS: Symptomatology increased in both groups over time, but persisted to a similar extent and had higher incidence among veterans than the comparison group. The gap in symptom prevalence between the two groups remained unchanged. These findings suggest enduring health consequences of Gulf War service.
BACKGROUND: Following the 1990-1991 Gulf War, Gulf War veterans (veterans) reported health symptoms more commonly than non-deployed groups. This article examines symptom persistence, incidence and prevalence 20 years on. METHODS: In 2000-2003 and 2011-2012, a 63-item symptom checklist was administered to 697 veterans and 659 comparison group. Symptomatology was compared using log-binomial regression. RESULTS: Both veterans and comparison group reported significantly increased prevalence (3-52%) over time in more than half the symptoms, with a similar overall rate of increase. Half the symptoms had higher incidence (risk-ratios ranged 1.43-1.50) and a quarter were more persistent (risk-ratios ranged 1.12-1.20) in veterans than the comparison group. CONCLUSIONS: Symptomatology increased in both groups over time, but persisted to a similar extent and had higher incidence among veterans than the comparison group. The gap in symptom prevalence between the two groups remained unchanged. These findings suggest enduring health consequences of Gulf War service.
Authors: Jacob V Ninneman; Nicholas P Gretzon; Aaron J Stegner; Jacob B Lindheimer; Michael J Falvo; Glenn Wylie; Ryan J Dougherty; Neda E Almassi; Stephanie M Van Riper; Alexander E Boruch; Douglas C Dean; Kelli F Koltyn; Dane B Cook Journal: J Neurosci Date: 2022-06-13 Impact factor: 6.709
Authors: Alexis L Maule; Patricia A Janulewicz; Kimberly A Sullivan; Maxine H Krengel; Megan K Yee; Michael McClean; Roberta F White Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2018-02-13 Impact factor: 2.692
Authors: Clara G Zundel; Timothy Heeren; Claudia M Grasso; Avron Spiro; Susan P Proctor; Kimberly Sullivan; Maxine Krengel Journal: Neurosci Insights Date: 2020-08-20
Authors: Krishnan Radhakrishnan; Elizabeth R Hauser; Renato Polimanti; Drew A Helmer; Dawn Provenzale; Rebecca B McNeil; Alysia Maffucci; Rachel Quaden; Hongyu Zhao; Stacey B Whitbourne; Kelly M Harrington; Jacqueline Vahey; Joel Gelernter; Daniel F Levey; Grant D Huang; John Michael Gaziano; John Concato; Mihaela Aslan Journal: Brain Sci Date: 2021-06-25