Table 1 Methodological considerations in selected military veteran mortality studies
Study [Reference No] | Conflict | Source of Veteran Status | Source of Conflict Zone Status | Source of Vital Status | Cause of Death Coding | ICD Codebook Revisionc | Methodological Quality Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Proportionate Mortality Investigations | |||||||
Kogan & Clapp 1985 [7] | Vietnam | MA state bonus listb | MA state bonus listb | MA state mortality records | As listed in MA state mortality records and/or MA death certificates | ICD9 | 73 |
Lawrence et al. 1985 [20] | Vietnam | 1. NY state vital records 2. DMDC | DMDC | 1. VA-BLIRS 2. NY state vital records 3. Interviews | As listed in NY state vital records | ICD8 | 83 |
Anderson et al. 1986 [38] | Vietnam | 1. WI state death certificate 2. VA-BIRLS 3. WI VA graves registration 4. Military service separation file (DD Form 214) | 1. Military service separation file (DD Form 214) 2. WI VA graves registration | 1. WI state mortality records 2. WI VA graves registration 3. VA-BIRLS | As listed on WI state death certificate | ICD7 (1960–67) ICD8 (1968–78) ICD9 (1979–85) | 84 |
Breslin et al. 1988 [39] | Vietnam | VA-BIRLS | NPRC | VA-BIRLS | Nosologist used death certificate from VA files, state vital records (supplemented by SSA, IRS, & NDI for location of death), or DD casualty office | ICD8 | 80 |
Bullman et al. 1990 [40] | Vietnam | VA-BIRLS | NPRC | VA-BIRLS | Nosologist used death certificate from VA files or state vital offices | ICD8 | 79 |
Watanabe et al. 1991 [24] | Vietnam | VA-BIRLS | NPRC | VA-BIRLS | Nosologist used death certificate from VA files, federal archive records, or state vital offices | ICD8 | 79 |
Visintainer et al. 1995 [41] | Vietnam | MI state bonus listb | MI state bonus listb | MI death certificate database | As listed on MI death certificate | not stated | 73 |
Watanabe & Kang 1996 [26] | Vietnam | VA-BIRLS | NPRC | VA-BIRLS | Nosologist used death certificate from VA files, federal records centers, or state vital offices | ICD8 | 80 |
Retrospective Cohort Investigations | |||||||
Fett et al. 1984 [42] | Vietnam | Australian national military service records | Australian national military service records | 1. State & territory death registers 2. Electoral records 3. Arrival & departure records 4. Army records 5. Driver license records 6. Police/correction records 7. Welfare/credit records | Nosologist used death certificate supplemented with medical records, autopsy reports, legal reports, & coroner findings | ICD8 | 96 |
Boyle et al. 1987 [9] | Vietnam | NPRC | NPRC | 1. VA-BIRLS 2. SSA 3. IRS 4. NDI 5. Army files 6. Interviews | Nosologist used death certificate | ICD8 ICD9 | 92 |
Thomas et al. 1991 [23] | Vietnam | 1. VN group provided by respective services (see conflict zone status) 2. NVN group: Army-morning reports from 90 facilities; all other services-random sample of women never serving in VN | Provided by respective Services: 1. Army-morning reports from 91 VN facilities 2. Navy-muster rolls of the 4 VN naval facilities 3. Air Force-list of all women serving in VN 4. Marines-list of all women serving in VN | 1. VA-BIRLS 3. SSA 4. IRS 5. NDI 6. Military Records | Nosologist used death certificate from VA files or state vital records offices | ICD8 | 88 |
Watanabe et al. 1995 [25] | Vietnam | Marine Corps file of all Marines on active duty | NPRC | VA-BIRLS | Nosologist used death certificate from VA files, federal records centers, or state vital offices | ICD8 | 84 |
Dalager & Kang 1997 [27] | Vietnam | 1. DMDC (Chemical MOS) 2. Army Chemical School class rosters | Morning reports of chemical units in VN | 1. VA-BIRLS 2. SSA 3. NDI | Nosologist used death certificate from VA files, federal records centers, or state vital offices | ICD9 | 85 |
Boehmer et al. 2004 [29] | Vietnam | NPRC | NPRC | 1. VA-BIRLS 2. SSA 3. NDI Plus | 1. NDI Plus 2. Nosologist used death certificate if cause of death not in NDI Plus | ICD9 (with NCHS modifications) | 93 |
Cypel & Kang 2008 [51] | Vietnam | 1. VA-BIRLS 2. SSA | 1. NDI Plus 2. Nosologist used death certificate from VA files or federal records center | ICD9 | 82 | ||
Kang & Bullman 1996 [28] | Gulf | DMDC | DMDC | 1. VA-BIRLS 2. SSA | Nosologist used death certificate from VA files or state vital offices | ICD9 | 89 |
Kang & Bullman 2001 [57] | Gulf | DMDC | DMDC | 1. VA-BIRLS 2. SSA | Nosologist used death certificate from VA files, federal records centers or NDI | ICD9 | 87 |
MacFarlane et al. 2000 [32] | Gulf | UK Ministry of Defense | UK Ministry of Defense | Office for National Statistics, National Health Service Central Registers | 1. Office for National Statistics performed coding 2. Defense Analytical Service Agency 3. Military sources in country of death | ICD9 | 83 |
MacFarlane et al. 2005 [59] | Gulf | UK Ministry of Defense | UK Ministry of Defense | Office for National Statistics, National Health Service Central Register | Office for National Statistics performed coding | ICD10 | 83 |
Sim et al. 2003 [61] | Gulf | Australian Defense Force | Australian Department of Veterans Affairs Nominal Roll for the Gulf War | Australian Institute of Health & Welfare NDI | As coded in Australian NDI | ICD9 (1990–1996) ICD10 (1997–2000) | 86 |