Hospitalizations for Unexplained Illnesses among U.S. Veterans of the Persian Gulf War
Author Information
Author(s): James D. Knoke, Gregory C. Gray
Primary Institution: Naval Health Research Center
Hypothesis
Do Gulf War veterans have a higher risk of hospitalization for unexplained illnesses compared to nondeployed veterans?
Conclusion
Gulf War veterans did not have excess unexplained illnesses resulting in hospitalization in the 4.67-year period following deployment.
Supporting Evidence
- Deployed veterans had a slightly higher risk of hospitalization for unexplained illness than nondeployed veterans.
- Most excess hospitalizations for deployed veterans were due to the diagnosis 'illness of unknown cause'.
- When participation in the Comprehensive Clinical Evaluation Program was accounted for, deployed veterans had a lower risk of hospitalization.
Takeaway
This study looked at whether soldiers who fought in the Gulf War got sick more often than those who didn't go. It found that they didn't get sick more often after returning home.
Methodology
The study compared hospitalization records of deployed and nondeployed active-duty service members using ICD-9 diagnoses.
Potential Biases
Potential misclassification of deployment status and the influence of the Comprehensive Clinical Evaluation Program on hospitalization rates.
Limitations
Some veterans may have been misclassified regarding their deployment status, and illnesses not serious enough to require hospitalization were not captured.
Participant Demographics
Active-duty service members from various branches of the military, including Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.0185
Confidence Interval
1.05 - 1.11
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
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