Neurological mortality among U.S. veterans of the Persian Gulf War: 13-year follow-up.
BACKGROUND
This study focuses on long-term mortality, specifically brain cancer, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson's disease, and multiple sclerosis (MS) of 621,902 veterans who served in the 1990-1991 Persian Gulf War (GW), and 746,248 non-GW veterans.


METHODS
Follow-up began with the date the veteran left the GW theater or May 1, 1991 and ended with the date of death or December 31, 2004. Cox proportional hazard models were used for analyses.


RESULTS
Adjusted mortality rate ratios (aRR) of GW veterans compared to non-GW veterans were not statistically significant for brain cancer (aRR = 0.90, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.73, 1.11), MS (aRR = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.23, 1.63), Parkinson's disease (aRR = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.17, 2.99), or ALS (aRR = 0.96, 95% CI: 0.56, 1.62). GW veterans potentially exposed to nerve agents for 2 or more days and GW veterans exposed to oil well fire smoke were at increased risk for brain cancer mortality (aRR = 2.71, 95% CI: 1.25, 5.87; aRR = 1.81, 95% CI: 1.00, 3.27; respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
The risk of death due to ALS, MS, Parkinson's disease, and brain cancer was not associated with 1991 GW service in general. However, GW veterans potentially exposed to nerve agents at Khamisiyah, Iraq, and to oil well fire smoke had an increased risk of mortality due to brain cancer.
Barth
Shannon K
SK
Department of Veterans Affairs, Environmental Epidemiology Service, Washington, District of Columbia 20420, USA. shannon.barth@va.gov
Kang
Han K
HK
Bullman
Tim A
TA
Wallin
Mitchell T
MT
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000401:mortality; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D047830:Gulf War; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000401:mortality; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000401:mortality*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000401:mortality; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012906:Smoke / Q000009:adverse effects; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014728:Veterans
D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents; D012906:Smoke