Self-reported ill health in male UK Gulf War veterans: a retrospective cohort study

BMC Public Health
Rebecca SimmonsPat Doyle

Abstract

Forces deployed to the first Gulf War report more ill health than veterans who did not serve there. Many studies of post-Gulf morbidity are based on relatively small sample sizes and selection bias is often a concern. In a setting where selection bias relating to the ill health of veterans may be reduced, we: i) examined self-reported adult ill health in a large sample of male UK Gulf War veterans and a demographically similar non-deployed comparison group; and ii) explored self-reported ill health among veterans who believed that they had Gulf War syndrome. This study uses data from a retrospective cohort study of reproduction and child health in which a validated postal questionnaire was sent to all UK Gulf War veterans (GWV) and a comparison cohort of Armed Service personnel who were not deployed to the Gulf (NGWV). The cohort for analysis comprises 42,818 males who responded to the questionnaire. We confirmed that GWV report higher rates of general ill health. GWV were significantly more likely to have reported at least one new medical symptom or disease since 1990 than NGWV (61% versus 37%, OR 2.7, 95% CI 2.5-2.8). They were also more likely to report higher numbers of symptoms. The strongest associations were for mood swi...Continue Reading

References

Nov 14, 1996·The New England Journal of Medicine·G C GrayE Barrett-Connor
Aug 26, 1998·American Journal of Epidemiology·H K Kang, T Bullman
Aug 26, 1998·American Journal of Epidemiology·G C GrayE Barrett-Connor
Aug 26, 1998·American Journal of Epidemiology·G C GrayG D Gackstetter
Sep 28, 1998·JAMA : the Journal of the American Medical Association·K FukudaW C Reeves
Jan 29, 1999·Lancet·C UnwinS Wessely
Jan 29, 1999·Lancet·K IsmailS Wessely
Jan 29, 1999·BMJ : British Medical Journal·F M Murphy
Apr 21, 1999·Lancet·E Ferguson
Sep 29, 1999·Archives of Environmental Health·H M KipenB H Natelson
Sep 1, 2000·American Journal of Epidemiology·J D KnokeA W Hawksworth
Apr 17, 2001·Occupational and Environmental Medicine·N CherryG J Macfarlane
Apr 17, 2001·Occupational and Environmental Medicine·N CherryG J Macfarlane
Sep 5, 2001·BMJ : British Medical Journal·T ChalderS Wessely
Mar 12, 2002·Occupational and Environmental Medicine·S ReidS Wessely
Dec 7, 2002·Occupational and Environmental Medicine·H K KangG C Gray
Dec 13, 2003·BMJ : British Medical Journal·Daniel Clauw
Dec 13, 2003·BMJ : British Medical Journal·Matthew HotopfSimon Wessely
Dec 13, 2003·BMJ : British Medical Journal·Gary J MacfarlaneMark Lunt
Aug 1, 1998·Journal of Clinical Rheumatology : Practical Reports on Rheumatic & Musculoskeletal Diseases·A R EricksonS G West

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Feb 8, 2006·Archives of General Psychiatry·Judith PizarroJoAnn Prause
May 12, 2006·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Khalida Ismail, Glyn Lewis
May 12, 2006·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Jennifer J Vasterling, J Douglas Bremner
Sep 22, 2006·BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders·Hollie V ThomasGlyn Lewis
May 22, 2018·Aging & Mental Health·Polly YeungChristine Stephens
Sep 30, 2016·Journal of Wound Care·K-L Edward, K Ousey
Mar 2, 2005·International Journal of Epidemiology·Gary D GackstetterGregory C Gray
Jan 6, 2019·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·Anthony R Mawson, Ashley M Croft

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Software Mentioned

Stata

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Bladder Carcinoma In Situ

Bladder Carcinoma In Situ is a superficial bladder cancer that occurs on the surface layer of the bladder. Discover the latest research on this precancerous condition in this feed.

Allergy and Asthma

Allergy and asthma are inflammatory disorders that are triggered by the activation of an allergen-specific regulatory t cell. These t cells become activated when allergens are recognized by allergen-presenting cells. Here is the latest research on allergy and asthma.

Allergies & Environmental Factors

Environmental factors are strongly associated with the prevalence of allergies and are an increasing health concern worldwide. Discover the latest research on Allergies and Environmental Factors here.