Table 2 Summary of self-reported symptoms/diseases by deployment (ordered by frequency of reported ill health categories among GWV)
From: Self-reported ill health in male UK Gulf War veterans: a retrospective cohort study
Self-reported symptom | Frequency (%) | GWV vs. NGWV | |
|---|---|---|---|
GWV1(n = 23,358)2 | NGWV1(n = 17,730)2 | Adjusted odds ratio 3 (95% CI) | |
All reporting ≥ 1 new symptom/disease since 1990 | 14,174 2 (60.7) | 6,505 2 (36.7) | 2.7 (2.5–2.8)*** |
Mental and behavioural disorders | 4,691 (20.1) | 634 (3.6) | 6.7 (6.1–7.3)*** |
Memory loss / lack of concentration | 1,883 (7.9) | 76 (0.4) | 19.6 (15.5–24.8)*** |
Mood swings / aggression / irritability | 1,712 (7.3) | 62 (0.4) | 20.9 (16.2–27.0)*** |
Anxiety / stress / sleep disturbance | 1,212 (5.2) | 272 (1.5) | 3.4 (3.0–3.9)*** |
Depression | 1,005 (4.3) | 203 (1.1) | 3.6 (3.1–4.2)*** |
PTSD and associated symptoms (mentioned specifically) | 231 (1.0) | 68 (0.4) | 2.4 (1.8–3.1)*** |
Sexual dysfunction / lack of sex drive | 192 (0.8) | 35 (0.2) | 4.6 (3.2–6.6)*** |
Other psychiatric / psychological disorders NOS4 | 380 (1.6) | 65 (0.4) | 3.9 (3.0–5.1)*** |
Musculo-skeletal & connective tissue disorders | 3,807 (16.3) | 2,387 (13.5) | 1.2 (1.2–1.3)*** |
Skeletal & other muscular symptoms | 3,523 (15.1) | 2,346 (13.2) | 1.1 (1.1–1.2)*** |
Muscular pain / weakness (mentioned specifically) | 460 (2.0) | 77 (0.4) | 4.5 (3.5–5.7)*** |
Other symptoms NOS 4 | 3,058 (13.1) | 1,146 (6.5) | 2.2 (2.0–2.3)*** |
Fatigue | 2,632 (11.3) | 236 (1.3) | 9.1 (8.0–10.5)*** |
General fatigue | 2,532 (10.8) | 215 (1.2) | 9.6 (8.3–11.1)*** |
Chronic fatigue syndrome / ME (mentioned specifically) | 100 (0.4) | 21 (0.1) | 3.5 (2.1–5.5)*** |
Nervous system disorders | 2,104 (9.0) | 435 (2.5) | 3.8 (3.4–4.2)*** |
Headaches | 1,554 (6.7) | 280 (1.6) | 4.2 (3.7–4.8)*** |
Numbness / tingling / dizziness | 460 (2.0) | 93 (0.5) | 3.6 (2.9–4.6)*** |
Epilepsy | 53 (0.2) | 21 (0.1) | 1.6 (1.0–2.7) |
Other neurological and neuromuscular problems NOS4 | 217 (0.9) | 68 (0.4) | 2.4 (1.8–3.1)*** |
Infection | 1,898 (8.1) | 606 (3.4) | 2.5 (2.3–2.7)*** |
Chronic / frequent infection | 1,351 (5.8) | 278 (1.6) | 3.8 (3.3–4.3)*** |
Single episodes of acute infection | 635 (2.7) | 351 (2.0) | 1.4 (1.2–1.6)*** |
Skin allergies | 1,782 (7.6) | 414 (2.3) | 3.3 (3.0–3.7)*** |
Respiratory disorders | 1,468 (6.3) | 569 (3.2) | 2.0 (1.8–2.2)*** |
Asthma | 608 (2.6) | 374 (2.1) | 1.2 (1.1–1.4)** |
Respiratory problems NOS4 | 898 (3.8) | 204 (1.2) | 3.3 (2.9–3.9)*** |
Digestive, stomach & intestinal disorders | 1,377 (5.9) | 538 (3.0) | 2.0 (1.8–2.2)*** |
Deterioration in general health | 852 (3.7) | 510 (2.9) | 1.3 (1.1–1.4)*** |
General deterioration of eyesight / hearing | 582 (2.5) | 465 (2.6) | 1.0 (0.8–1.1) |
General decline in fitness / health | 280 (1.2) | 48 (0.3) | 4.4 (3.2–6.0)*** |
Cardiovascular disorders | 675 (2.9) | 442 (2.5) | 1.3 (1.1–1.4)*** |
Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic disorders | 624 (2.7) | 210 (1.2) | 2.2 (1.9–2.6)*** |
Hormonal imbalance / problems | 70 (0.3) | 38 (0.2) | 1.5 (1.0–2.2) |
Diabetes | 57 (0.2) | 64 (0.4) | 0.7 (0.5–1.0) |
Weight gain / loss | 504 (2.2) | 109 (0.6) | 3.4 (2.7–4.1)*** |
Genito-urinary system disorders | 464 (2.0) | 198 (1.1) | 1.8 (1.5–2.1)*** |
Genital system & bladder problems5 | 276 (1.2) | 99 (0.6) | 2.2 (1.7–2.7)*** |
Kidney disease / symptoms | 209 (0.9) | 103 (0.6) | 1.5 (1.2–1.9)** |
Chest pains / tightness (not elsewhere classified) | 399 (1.7) | 134 (0.8) | 2.2 (1.8–2.6)*** |
Allergies other than skin | 369 (1.6) | 161 (0.9) | 1.8 (1.5–2.1)*** |
Night sweats / excessive sweating / "fevers" | 315 (1.4) | 23 (0.1) | 9.9 (6.5–15.2)*** |
Accidental injury | 294 (1.3) | 460 (2.6) | 0.5 (0.4–0.5)*** |
Auto-immune disease | 241 (1.0) | 196 (1.1) | 1.0 (0.8–1.2) |
Cancer 6 | 127 (0.5) | 88 (0.5) | 1.1 (0.9–1.5) |