title: Self-reported exposures and their association with unexplained illness in a population-based case-control study of Gulf War veterans.
abstract: Many factors have been considered as possible causes of the unexplained illness reported by veterans of the Gulf War (GW). In this study, we report an analysis of risk factors and unexplained illness in a population-based sample of GW veterans who underwent clinical evaluation. Multiple risk factors were compared in 241 veterans who met criteria for unexplained illness and 113 healthy controls. Results suggest that GW unexplained illness is most highly associated with combat conditions, heat stress, and having sought medical attention during the GW. When controlling for multiple simultaneous exposures during the GW, interactions around pyridostigmine bromide, insecticides and repellents, and stress were not significant. These results indicate that most unexplained illness in GW veterans cannot be explained by neurotoxic effects of exposures to chemicals that inhibit cholinesterase activity.
authors.affiliation: Center for Research on Occupational and Environmental Toxicology, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, CROET Mailcode L606, Portland, OR 97201, USA. spencer@ohsu.edu
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Spencer
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: McCauley
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Lapidus
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lasarev
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Joos
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Storzbach
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D018882:Heat Stress Disorders / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007306:Insecticides / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008877:Middle East; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018923:Persian Gulf Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012650:Self Disclosure; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014728:Veterans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014857:Warfare
chemical_list: D007306:Insecticides