Objective: It is important to understand the characteristics and representativeness of participants in the Department of Defense (DoD) or Veterans’ Affairs (VA) Gulf War (GW) health registries relative to the total GW cohort. The purpose of this analysis was to dentify demographic, military, premorbid, and medical care (access) factors associated with participation.
Methods: Analyzed data from the Iowa Gulf War Study, a structured telephone interview using complex sampling to study military personnel who were either deployed to the Gulf War theater (GWD) or served elsewhere between 8/90 and 7/91. Weighted logistic regression was used to determine univariate and multivariate associations with registry participation using SUDAAN.
Results: Of the 1896 GWD respondents (78% participation), 23% reported having been evaluated for the VA or DoD GW Registries five years post conflict. Service in the National Guard or Reserve, service in the Army, enlisted rank, age >25 years, lower military preparedness, participation in combat, a history of seeking professional help for a mental health problem, and a pre-deployment history of chronic sinusitis, arthritis or rheumatism were independently associated with increased likelihood of participation.
Conclusion: Similar to the rates found in our population-based sample, 125,000 (18%) GW veterans nationally have voluntarily participated in these registries. Of note, factors unrelated to the deployment experience, such as pre-deployment health and military characteristics are related to increased registry participation. Future research should examine how these identified risk factors relate to post-deployment health.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to: 1. Discuss the function of the Gulf War Health registries and the rate at which veterans are enrolling in them. 2. Describe potential risk factors for participation in one of the Gulf War Health Registries. 3. Articulate that factors other than deployment exposures, such as pre-deployment health and military characteristics are related to whether an individual volunteers to participate in a registry.
Keywords: Epidemiology, Gulf War
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Department of Defense
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.