The war-related illness and injury study centers: a resource for deployment-related health concerns

Combat veterans often return from deployment having experienced a wide range of exposures, symptoms, and medical conditions. The Department of Veterans Affairs established war-related illness and injury study centers to serve combat veterans with unexplained illnesses. We report the exposures, clini...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Military medicine 2006-07, Vol.171 (7), p.577-585
Main Authors: Lincoln, Andrew E, Helmer, Drew A, Schneiderman, Aaron I, Li, Mian, Copeland, H Liesel, Prisco, Michelle K, Wallin, Mitchell T, Kang, Han K, Natelson, Benjamin H
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Chronic fatigue syndrome
Clinical medicine
Clinical practice guidelines
Combat Disorders - epidemiology
Combat Disorders - etiology
Combat Disorders - rehabilitation
Communication
Education
Epidemiology
Female
Gulf War
Health Status
Humans
Illnesses
Male
Medical Audit
Middle Aged
Military Personnel
Patients
Persian Gulf War
Post traumatic stress disorder
Primary care
Retrospective Studies
United States - epidemiology
United States Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans
Veterans - statistics & numerical data
Wounds and Injuries - epidemiology
Wounds and Injuries - rehabilitation
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Summary:Combat veterans often return from deployment having experienced a wide range of exposures, symptoms, and medical conditions. The Department of Veterans Affairs established war-related illness and injury study centers to serve combat veterans with unexplained illnesses. We report the exposures, clinical status, and utilization of 53 combat veterans who participated in the National Referral Program (NRP) from January 2002 until March 2004. Participants were primarily male (81%) and served in the Persian Gulf War (79%). Common diagnoses were chronic fatigue syndrome (n = 23, 43%), neurotic depression (n = 21, 40%), and post-traumatic stress disorder (n = 20, 38%). Self-reported exposures related to weaponry, disease prophylaxis, environmental hazards, stress, and poor hygiene. A small increase in mean SF-36V mental component scores (2.8 points, p = 0.009) and use of rehabilitation therapies (1.6 additional visits, p = 0.018) followed the NRP referral. The small gain in mental function suggests that the NRP may benefit combat veterans with long and complex medical histories.
ISSN:0026-4075
1930-613X
DOI:10.7205/MILMED.171.7.577