Increased symptom reporting persists in 1990-1991 Gulf War veterans 20 years post deployment.
BACKGROUND
Following the 1990-1991 Gulf War, Gulf War veterans (veterans) reported health symptoms more commonly than non-deployed groups. This article examines symptom persistence, incidence and prevalence 20 years on.


METHODS
In 2000-2003 and 2011-2012, a 63-item symptom checklist was administered to 697 veterans and 659 comparison group. Symptomatology was compared using log-binomial regression.


RESULTS
Both veterans and comparison group reported significantly increased prevalence (3-52%) over time in more than half the symptoms, with a similar overall rate of increase. Half the symptoms had higher incidence (risk-ratios ranged 1.43-1.50) and a quarter were more persistent (risk-ratios ranged 1.12-1.20) in veterans than the comparison group.


CONCLUSIONS
Symptomatology increased in both groups over time, but persisted to a similar extent and had higher incidence among veterans than the comparison group. The gap in symptom prevalence between the two groups remained unchanged. These findings suggest enduring health consequences of Gulf War service.
Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Stella M
SM
Gwini
Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Andrew B
AB
Forbes
Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Helen L
HL
Kelsall
Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Jillian F
JF
Ikin
Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Malcolm R
MR
Sim
D000328:Adult; D057189:Checklist; D005260:Female; D047830:Gulf War; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018923:Persian Gulf Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012044:Regression Analysis; D063189:Symptom Assessment / Q000379:methods; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014728:Veterans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
Gulf War; incidence; longitudinal study; persistence; symptoms; veterans