From: Self-reported ill health in male UK Gulf War veterans: a retrospective cohort study
Self-reported symptom | Frequency (%) | Adjusted2 odds ratio (95% CI) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
GWS1 (n = 1,296) | unsure-GWS1 (n = 9,443) | non-GWS1 (n= 12,364) | GWS vs non-GWS | unsure GWS vs. non-GWS | |
All reporting ≥ 1 new symptom /disease since 1990 | 1,260 (97.2) | 7,929 (84.0) | 4,830 (39.1) | 48.2 (34.5–67.4)*** | 8.0 (7.5–8.6)*** |
Mental and behavioural disorders | 775 (59.8) | 3,076 (32.6) | 793 (6.4) | 18.3 (15.9–21.0)*** | 6.6 (6.0–7.1)*** |
Memory loss / lack of concentration | 295 (22.8) | 1,249 (13.2) | 274 (2.2) | 12.1 (10.0–14.7)*** | 6.6 (5.7–7.5)*** |
Mood swings / aggression / irritability | 327 (25.2) | 1,147 (12.2) | 214 (1.7) | 16.1 (13.2–19.7)*** | 6.9 (5.9–8.0)*** |
Anxiety / stress / sleep disturbance | 220 (17.0) | 769 (8.1) | 213 (1.7) | 10.8 (8.7–13.5)*** | 4.7 (4.1–5.6)*** |
Depression | 245 (18.9) | 613 (6.5) | 137 (1.1) | 16.1 (12.7–20.4)*** | 5.5 (4.5–6.6)*** |
PTSD and associated symptoms (mentioned specifically) | 91 (7.0) | 116 (1.2) | 21 (0.2) | 34.9 (20.8–58.7)*** | 6.4 (4.0–10.5)*** |
Sexual dysfunction / lack of sex drive | 42 (3.2) | 123 (1.3) | 27 (0.2) | 13.1 (7.7–22.3)*** | 6.4 (4.2–9.9)*** |
Other psychiatric / psychological disorders NOS3 | 93 (7.2) | 237 (2.5) | 47 (0.4) | 14.7 (10.0–21.7)*** | 5.7 (4.1–7.9)*** |
Musculo-skeletal & connective tissue disorders | 500 (38.6) | 2,118 (22.4) | 1,156 (9.4) | 5.3 (4.6–6.1)*** | 2.6 (2.4–2.9)*** |
Skeletal & other muscular symptoms | 441 (34.0) | 1,944 (20.6) | 1,107 (9.0) | 4.5 (3.9–5.2)*** | 2.5 (2.3–2.7)*** |
Muscular pain / weakness (mentioned specifically) | 122 (9.4) | 265 (2.8) | 68 (0.6) | 16.2 (11.7–22.5)*** | 5.1 (3.9–6.7)*** |
Fatigue | 462 (35.7) | 1,742 (18.5) | 397 (3.2) | 15.4 (13.1–18.2)*** | 6.9 (6.1–7.7)*** |
General fatigue | 405 (31.3) | 1,707 (18.1) | 389 (3.2) | 13.1 (11.1–15.5)*** | 6.8 (6.1–7.7)*** |
Chronic fatigue syndrome / ME (mentioned specifically) | 57 (4.4) | 35 (0.4) | 8 (0.1) | 65.3 (29.4–145.1)*** | 6.1 (2.8–13.5)*** |
Other symptoms NOS 3 | 407 (31.4) | 1,720 (18.2) | 908 (7.3) | 5.4 (4.7–6.3)*** | 2.8 (2.6–3.1)*** |
Nervous system disorders | 373 (28.8) | 1,284 (13.6) | 415 (3.4) | 10.0 (8.4–11.8)*** | 4.1 (3.6–4.6)*** |
Headaches | 266 (20.5) | 958 (10.2) | 308 (2.5) | 8.7 (7.2–10.6)*** | 3.9 (3.4–4.5)*** |
Numbness / tingling / dizziness | 101 (7.8) | 270 (2.9) | 82 (0.7) | 9.4 (6.8–12.9)*** | 4.0 (3.1–5.2)*** |
Epilepsy | 12 (0.9) | 30 (0.3) | 9 (0.1) | 13.0 (5.0–34.1)*** | 3.5 (1.6–7.5)** |
Other neurological and neuromuscular problems NOS3 | 61 (4.7) | 114 (1.2) | 36 (0.3) | 14.3 (9.1–22.5)*** | 4.2 (2.8–6.2)*** |
Skin allergies | 242 (18.7) | 994 (10.5) | 531 (4.3) | 4.9 (4.1–5.9)*** | 2.5 (2.3–2.8)*** |
Digestive, stomach & intestinal disorders | 194 (15.0) | 813 (8.6) | 355 (2.9) | 5.5 (4.5–6.7)*** | 3.2 (2.8–3.7)*** |
Respiratory disorders | 194 (15.0) | 860 (9.1) | 400 (3.2) | 5.1 (4.2–6.2)*** | 3.0 (2.6–3.4)*** |
Asthma | 71 (5.5) | 342 (3.6) | 188 (1.5) | 3.8 (2.8–5.1)*** | 2.5 (2.1–3.0)*** |
Respiratory problems NOS3 | 128 (9.9) | 540 (5.7) | 222 (1.8) | 5.6 (4.4–7.2)*** | 3.2 (2.7–3.8)*** |
Infection | 164 (12.7) | 1,102 (11.7) | 609 (4.9) | 2.9 (2.4–3.5)*** | 2.6 (2.4–2.9)*** |
Chronic / frequent infection | 122 (9.4) | 842 (8.9) | 372 (3.0) | 3.5 (2.8–4.4)*** | 3.3 (2.9–3.7)*** |
Single episodes of acute infection | 55 (4.2) | 319 (3.4) | 253 (2.1) | 2.2 (1.6–3.0)*** | 1.8 (1.5–2.1)*** |
Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic disorders | 116 (9.0) | 366 (3.9) | 134 (1.1) | 7.4 (5.6–9.8)*** | 3.4 (2.8–4.2)*** |
Hormonal imbalance / problems | 14 (1.1) | 36 (0.4) | 20 (0.2) | 7.0 (3.3–14.8)*** | 2.4 (1.4–4.2)*** |
Diabetes | 8 (0.6) | 29 (0.3) | 20 (0.2) | 3.3 (1.4–7.9)*** | 2.0 (1.1–3.6)* |
Weight gain / loss | 95 (7.3) | 306 (3.2) | 95 (0.8) | 8.0 (5.8–10.9)*** | 3.9 (3.1–4.9)*** |
Deterioration in general health | 92 (7.1) | 494 (5.2) | 256 (2.1) | 3.2 (2.5–4.2)*** | 2.5 (2.1–2.9)*** |
General deterioration of eyesight / hearing | 53 (4.1) | 310 (3.3) | 212 (1.7) | 2.2 (1.6–3.0)*** | 1.9 (1.5–2.2)*** |
General decline in fitness / health | 41 (3.2) | 191 (2.0) | 45 (0.4) | 8.3 (5.1–13.5)*** | 5.7 (4.1–8.0)*** |
Cardiovascular disorders | 90 (6.9) | 344 (3.6) | 237 (1.9) | 3.8 (2.9–5.0)*** | 2.1 (1.8–2.5)*** |
Genito-urinary system disorders | 77 (5.9) | 238 (2.5) | 143 (1.2) | 5.3 (3.9–7.2)*** | 2.3 (1.8–2.8)*** |
Genital system & bladder problems4 | 46 (3.6) | 150 (1.6) | 79 (0.6) | 6.1 (4.0–9.2)*** | 2.7 (2.0–3.6)*** |
Kidney disease / symptoms | 35 (2.7) | 101 (1.1) | 68 (0.6) | 4.4 (2.8–6.9)*** | 1.9 (1.4–2.6)*** |
Night sweats / excessive sweating / "fevers" | 77 (5.9) | 185 (2.0) | 49 (0.4) | 13.7 (9.2–20.2)*** | 4.7 (3.4–6.5)*** |
Chest pains / tightness (not elsewhere classified) | 56 (4.3) | 253 (2.7) | 87 (0.7) | 5.5 (3.8–7.9)*** | 3.3 (2.6–4.3)*** |
Auto-immune disease | 37 (2.9) | 136 (1.4) | 64 (0.5) | 5.2 (3.3–8.1)*** | 2.8 (2.1–3.8)*** |
Allergies other than skin | 31 (2.4) | 197 (2.1) | 136 (1.1) | 2.7 (1.8–4.1)*** | 2.2 (1.7–2.8)*** |
Cancer 5 | 19 (1.5) | 61 (0.7) | 42 (0.3) | 5.1 (2.8–9.2)*** | 2.3 (1.5–3.4)*** |
Accidental injury | 14 (1.1) | 128 (1.4) | 146 (1.2) | 0.9 (0.5–1.5) | 1.1 (0.8–1.4) |