Combined Analysis of the VA
and DoD Gulf War
Clinical Evaluation Programs

A Study of the Clinical Findings from Systematic Medical Examinations
of 100,339 U.S. Gulf War Veterans

Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration	Department of Defense, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense, Health Affairs

September 2002

Table of Contents

Background

Potential Health Hazards During the Gulf War

Research and Evaluation

Gulf War Clinical Evaluation Programs

VA Gulf War Registry Health Examination Program

DoD Comprehensive Clinical Evaluation Program (CCEP)

British Medical Assessment Programme (MAP)

Canadian Gulf War Registry

Combined Analysis of VA and DoD Clinical Evaluation Programs

Overall Aims of Study

Confidentiality

Clinical Analysis

Methods

Results

Frequency Distribution of Major Diagnoses

Time Series Analysis

Veterans Evaluated in Both the VA and DoD Registries

Analysis of Spouses ans Children of Veterans

Epidemiological Analysis

Methods

Results

Future Research

Conclusion

References

Tables

1. Unique Characteristics of the VA and DoD Clinical Evaluation Programs
2. Demographic Characteristics of Gulf War Clinical Evaluation Program Participants
3. Military Characteristics of Gulf War Clinical Evaluation Program Participants
4. Self-reported Health Status of Registry Participants
5. The most Common Symptoms Reported by Registry Participants
6. Frequency of Major ICD-9 Diagnostic Categories
7. Infectious and Parasitic Diseases (ICD-9 001-139)
8. Malignant Neoplasms (ICD-9 140-208)
9. Endocrine, Nutritional, and Metabolic Diseases, and Immunity Disorders (ICD-9 240-279)
10. Blood and Blood-Forming Organs (ICD-9 280-289)
11. Mental Disorders (ICD-9 290-319)
12. Diseases of the Nervous System and Sense Organs (ICD-9 320-389)
13. Diseases of the Circulatory System (ICD-9 390-459)
14. Diseases of the Respiratory System (ICD-9 460-519)
15. Diseases of the Digestive System (ICD-9 520-579) 52
16. Diseases of the Genitourinary System (ICD-9 580-629)
17. Diseases of the Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue (ICD-9 680-709)
18. Diseases of the Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue (ICD-9 710-739)
19. Symptoms, Signs and Ill-Defined Conditions (ICD-9 780-799)
20. Injury and Poisoning (ICD-9 800-999)
21. Percentage of Primary Diagnoses with a Secondary Diagnosis of "Symptoms, Signs, and Ill-Defined Conditions"
22. Percent Distribution of Symptoms Recorded for Gulf War Veterans in the VA Registry by Year of Examination
23. Percent Distribution of Symptoms Recorded for Gulf War Veterans in the DoD CCEP by Year of Examination
24. Percent Distribution of Diagnoses Recorded for Gulf War Veterans in the VA Registry by Year of Examination
25. Percent Distribution of Diagnoses Recorded for Gulf War Veterans in the DoD CCEP by Year of Examination
26. Percent Distribution of Symptoms for the 2,922 Veterans Who Were Examined in Both the VA and DoD Gulf War Registry Programs
27. Percent Distribution of Diagnoses Recorded for the 2,922 Veterans Who Were Examined in Both the VA and DoD Gulf War Registry Programs
28. Twenty Most Common Diagnoses in VA Clinical Evaluation Program for Spouses and Children of Veterans
29. Percent Distribution for Time and Place in Theater and Assignment to a Combat Specialty Among Veterans in the VA and DoD Clinical Registries
30. Self-Reported Exposure Histories of VA and DoD Registry Participants
31. Adjusted Odds Ratios for the Outcome of Participation in the VA or DoD Registries among Gulf War Veterans by Demographic Characteristics
32. Adjusted Odds Ratios for the Outcome of Participation in the VA or DoD Registries among Gulf War Veterans by Military Characteristics
33. Adjusted Odds Ratios for the Outcome of Participation in the VA or DoD Registries among Gulf War Veterans by Wartime Exposures and by a History of Pre -War Hospitalization

Figures

1. Gulf War Veterans Evaluated in the VA and DoD Clinical Evaluation Programs
2. Number of Participants Enrolling in the Gulf War Clinical Evaluation Programs by Calendar Year
3. DoD CCEP Hotline Referrals: Influence of Popular Media Reports on Registry Enrollment (June 1994 - 31 July 1998)

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