Rates of Chronic Medical Conditions in 1991 Gulf War Veterans Compared to the General Population

Clara G. Zundel, Maxine H. Krengel, Timothy Heeren, Megan K. Yee, Claudia M. Grasso, Patricia A. Janulewicz Lloyd, Steven S. Coughlin and Kimberly Sullivan
Additional contact information
Clara G. Zundel: Research Service, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA 02130, USA
Maxine H. Krengel: Research Service, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA 02130, USA
Timothy Heeren: Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02118, USA
Megan K. Yee: Research Service, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA 02130, USA
Claudia M. Grasso: Research Service, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA 02130, USA
Patricia A. Janulewicz Lloyd: Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02118, USA
Steven S. Coughlin: Department of Population Health Sciences, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, 1120 15th Street, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
Kimberly Sullivan: Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02118, USA

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 6, 1-16

Abstract: Prevalence of nine chronic medical conditions in the population-based Ft. Devens Cohort (FDC) of GW veterans were compared with the population-based 2013–2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) cohort. Excess prevalence was calculated as the difference in prevalence estimates from the Ft. Devens and NHANES cohorts; and confidence intervals and p -values are based on the standard errors for the two prevalence estimates. FDC males were at increased risk for reporting seven chronic medical conditions compared with NHANES males. FDC females were at decreased risk for high blood pressure and increased risk for diabetes when compared with NHANES females. FDC veterans reporting war-related chemical weapons exposure showed higher risk of high blood pressure; diabetes; arthritis and chronic bronchitis while those reporting taking anti-nerve gas pills had increased risk of heart attack and diabetes. GW veterans are at higher risk of chronic conditions than the general population and these risks are associated with self-reported toxicant exposures.

Keywords: Gulf War; veterans; Gulf War Illness; Fort Devens Cohort; NHANES; chronic conditions; pyridostigmine bromide; chemical weapons (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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