Prevalence of Chronic Multisymptom Illness/Gulf War Illness Over Time Among Millennium Cohort Participants, 2001 2016
Abstract
Background: Chronic multisymptom illness/Gulf War illness (CMI/GWI) is the defining illness of the 1990-1991 Persian Gulf War. However, few studies have examined how the prevalence of CMI/GWI changes over time among Gulf War veterans compared to reference groups not deployed to the Gulf War. Method: The current analysis examined prevalence of CMI/GWI across five time points collected between 2001 and 2016. Gulf War veterans were compared to non-deployed Gulf War era personnel and personnel not in service during the Gulf War. Non-linear mixed modeling was used to estimate the impact of time and Gulf War deployment on odds of CMI/GWI. An unexpectedly strong associations of CMI/GWI with mental health conditions prompted post hoc analyses among participants with no reported mental and physical health conditions. Results: Gulf War veterans had the highest prevalence of CMI/GWI at baseline and this increased prevalence persisted across the study period. Odds of CMI/GWI increased over time and this increase was slightly more rapid for non-deployed Gulf War era personnel relative to Gulf War veterans. No substantive differences in the associations between CMI/GWI and Gulf War deployment were observed in models stratified bysex and race/ethnicity. Additionally, excluding participants with mental and physical health conditions did not substantively change the association between Gulf War deployment and CMI/GWI. Conclusions: Prevalence of CMI/GWI increased substantially over time for all groups studied. Relative to reference groups, Gulf War veterans have an increased prevalence of CMI/GWI that persists across time.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2020
- Accession Number
- AD1107845
Entities
People
- Ben Porter
- Erin Dursa
- Kyna Long
- Rudolph Rull
Organizations
- Naval Health Research Center