Environmental exposure and health of Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans.
OBJECTIVE
We characterized the prevalence of self-reported environmental exposures, concerns about exposures, and their relationships with somatic symptoms in Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (Iraq) (OIF) veterans seeking treatment at a specialty Veterans Affairs (VA) clinic. Concerns about environmental exposures were expected to lead to more reporting of somatic symptom burden.


METHODS
We conducted a chart review of 469 OEF/OIF veterans seen at a VA tertiary care clinic.


RESULTS
OEF/OIF veterans reported a high level of environmental exposures and concerns about environmental exposures. Greater reported environmental exposures (β = 0.13) and environmental exposure concerns (β = 0.39) were associated with a greater somatic symptom burden. Exposure concerns accounted for some of the relationship of exposures on somatic symptom burden (confidence interval, 0.33-0.60).


CONCLUSIONS
OEF/OIF veterans seeking treatment at a VA clinic reported a high prevalence of environmental exposures and exposure concerns. Both negatively impacted health outcomes.
Department of Veterans Affairs, NJ War Related Illness and Injury Study Center, 385 Tremont Ave. #129, East Orange, NJ 07018, USA. Lisa.McAndrew@va.gov
Lisa M
LM
McAndrew
Ron F
RF
Teichman
Omowunmi Y
OY
Osinubi
Jessica V
JV
Jasien
Karen S
KS
Quigley
D000328:Adult; D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D057566:Self Report; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*