An observational study on diagnoses of 3,233 Gulf Veterans (Op Granby 1990-91) who attended the Ministry of Defence's Medical Assessment Programme 1993-2004.
BACKGROUND
This is the result of an observational study on 3,233 Gulf veterans who have attended our medical assessment programme. We wanted to determine as a result of in-depth interviews, full medical examination and appropriate investigations, whether there was any unique Gulf war related medical condition.


METHODS
Over a period of 10 years, 3,233 veterans have been assessed. All diagnoses have been made according to ICD-10 classifications. All psychiatric diagnoses have been confirmed by consultant psychiatrists.


RESULTS
75% of veterans were well. Of the 25% unwell, 83% of ill health was accounted for by a psychiatric disorder. 3% of veterans had organic conditions which could be linked to Gulf deployment. The most common of these were respiratory disorders, followed by digestive disorders, injuries and skin disorders. Only 11 of these cases could be linked to the use of medical countermeasures. A further, 51 cases (41 respiratory disorders, 6 infections, 2 skin disorders and 2 eye conditions) could be linked to environmental conditions.


CONCLUSIONS
All veterans seen with health problems could be identified as per ICD-10 classification of disease. We did not find any medically unexplained conditions. We found no evidence of a unique 'Gulf War Syndrome'.
Bale
A J
AJ
Lee
H A
HA
D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D038801:International Classification of Diseases; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D018923:Persian Gulf Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D014728:Veterans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*