Health symptom trajectories and neurotoxicant exposures in Gulf War veterans: the Ft. Devens cohort.
Gulf War
Health symptoms
Longitudinal Design
Neurotoxicant exposure
Toxic wounds
Veterans
Journal
Environmental health : a global access science source
ISSN: 1476-069X
Titre abrégé: Environ Health
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101147645
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
08 01 2022
08 01 2022
Historique:
received:
26
05
2021
accepted:
25
11
2021
entrez:
9
1
2022
pubmed:
10
1
2022
medline:
4
2
2022
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
Thirty years ago, Gulf War (GW) veterans returned home with numerous health symptoms that have been associated with neurotoxicant exposures experienced during deployment. The health effects from these exposures have been termed toxic wounds. Most GW exposure-outcome studies utilize group analyses and thus individual fluctuations in symptoms may have been masked. This study investigates health symptom trajectories in the same veterans over 25 years. Veterans were categorized into 5 a priori trajectory groups for each health symptom and Chronic Multisymptom Illness (CMI) clinical case status. Multinomial logistic regression models were used to investigate associations between these trajectories and neurotoxicant exposures. Results indicate that more than 21 Pyridostigmine Bromide (PB) pill exposure was associated with consistent reporting of fatigue, pain, and cognitive/mood symptoms as well as the development of six additional symptoms over time. Chemical weapons exposure was associated with both consistent reporting and development of neurological symptoms over time. Reported exposure to tent heater exhaust was associated with later development of gastrointestinal and pulmonary symptoms. Veterans reporting exposure to more than 21 PB pills were more than 8 times as likely to consistently meet the criteria for CMI over time. This study highlights the importance of the continued documentation of the health impacts experienced by GW veterans', their resulting chronic health symptoms, and the importance of exposure-outcome relationships in these veterans now 30 years post-deployment.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
Thirty years ago, Gulf War (GW) veterans returned home with numerous health symptoms that have been associated with neurotoxicant exposures experienced during deployment. The health effects from these exposures have been termed toxic wounds. Most GW exposure-outcome studies utilize group analyses and thus individual fluctuations in symptoms may have been masked. This study investigates health symptom trajectories in the same veterans over 25 years.
METHODS
Veterans were categorized into 5 a priori trajectory groups for each health symptom and Chronic Multisymptom Illness (CMI) clinical case status. Multinomial logistic regression models were used to investigate associations between these trajectories and neurotoxicant exposures.
RESULTS
Results indicate that more than 21 Pyridostigmine Bromide (PB) pill exposure was associated with consistent reporting of fatigue, pain, and cognitive/mood symptoms as well as the development of six additional symptoms over time. Chemical weapons exposure was associated with both consistent reporting and development of neurological symptoms over time. Reported exposure to tent heater exhaust was associated with later development of gastrointestinal and pulmonary symptoms. Veterans reporting exposure to more than 21 PB pills were more than 8 times as likely to consistently meet the criteria for CMI over time.
CONCLUSION
This study highlights the importance of the continued documentation of the health impacts experienced by GW veterans', their resulting chronic health symptoms, and the importance of exposure-outcome relationships in these veterans now 30 years post-deployment.
Identifiants
pubmed: 34998396
doi: 10.1186/s12940-021-00812-0
pii: 10.1186/s12940-021-00812-0
pmc: PMC8742929
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
7Informations de copyright
© 2022. The Author(s).
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