title: Pyridostigmine bromide and the long-term subjective health status of a sample of over 700 male Reserve Component Gulf War era veterans.
abstract: Data from a 1996-1997 survey of approximately 700 Reserve Component male veterans indicate that the consumption of pyridostigmine bromide pills, used as a pretreatment for potential exposure to the nerve agent Soman, was a significant predictor of declines in reported subjective health status after the war, even after controlling for a number of other possible factors. Reported reactions to vaccines and other medications also predicted declines in subjective health. While higher military rank generally predicted better health during and after the war, educational attainment, minority status, number of days in theater, and age generally did not predict changes in subjective health. Although servicemembers were directed to take three pills a day, veterans reported a range of compliance--less than a fourth (24%) followed the medical instructions compared to 61% who took fewer than three pills daily and 6% who took six or more pills a day. Implications for use of pyridostigmine bromide are discussed.
authors.affiliation: School of Family Studies and Human Services, Kansas State University, Manhattan 66506-1403, USA. schumm@humec.ksu.edu
authors.forename: Walter R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Schumm
authors.forename: Earl J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Reppert
authors.forename: Anthony P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Jurich
authors.forename: Stephan R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Bollman
authors.forename: Farrell J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Webb
authors.forename: Carlos S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Castelo
authors.forename: James C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Stever
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaufman
authors.forename: Liang-Yu
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krehbiel
authors.forename: Barbara L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Owens
authors.forename: Carolyn A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: Beverlyn F Cay
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Jeanne F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Lash
authors.forename: Carol J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Fink
authors.forename: Janet R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Crow
authors.forename: Gabriele N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Bonjour
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002618:Chemical Warfare; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance; D018923:Persian Gulf Syndrome / Q000523:psychology*; D011729:Pyridostigmine Bromide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012999:Soman / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013995:Time; D014728:Veterans
chemical_list: D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D012999:Soman; D011729:Pyridostigmine Bromide