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Volume 4, Number 2—June 1998
Synopsis

Hospitalizations for Unexplained Illnesses among U.S. Veterans of the Persian Gulf War

James D. KnokeComments to Author  and Gregory C. Gray
Author affiliations: Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, California, USA

Main Article

Table 3

Frequencies and risk ratios under the Cox proportional hazards model for all hospitalizations with at least one unexplained illness, all covariates, 1 August 1991 to 1 April 1996

Variable Deployed Nondeployed Risk ratioa 95% Confidence interval
Not deployed 1,479,751
Deployed 552,111 1.08 1.05 - 1.11
Not hospitalized before warb 513,486 1,375,169
Hospitalized before war 38,625 104,582 1.73 1.66 - 1.79
Not married 258,821 602,553
Married 291,009 875,309 1.05 1.02 - 1.08
Unknown marital status 2282 1889 0.64 0.41 - 1.00
Male 517,223 1,291,323
Female 33,690 188,273 2.13 2.06 - 2.20
Unknown gender 1198 155 0.60 0.20 - 1.75
White 383,704 1,110,949
Black 130,249 286,427 1.05 1.02 - 1.08
Hispanic 12,900 26,696 0.91 0.83 - 1.00
Other 23,592 54,128 0.91 0.85 - 0.97
Unknown race/ethnicity 1666 1551 1.08 0.69 - 1.68
Age in years: 17-21 142,547 343,535
22-25 146,652 306,272 0.94 0.90 - 0.97
26-31 138,173 373,698 0.95 0.90 - 1.00
>32 123,353 455,302 1.05 0.99 - 1.12
Unknown 1386 944 1.04 0.57 - 1.88
Infantry, gun crews, seamanship 140,742 273,079
Electronic equipment repair 45,263 159,195 0.99 0.93 - 1.04
Communications/intelligence 55,665 120,108 1.00 0.95 - 1.06
Health care 28,398 107,591 1.46 1.39 - 1.53
Other technical 11,633 33,246 1.02 0.93 - 1.11
Administration 62,194 255,576 0.96 0.92 - 1.00
Electrical/mechanical repair 110,258 224,527 0.98 0.93 - 1.02
Construction/related trades 19,424 47,800 1.11 1.03 - 1.20
Supply handlers 53,966 113,093 1.11 1.06 - 1.17
Trainees, undesignated 6421 64,625 1.02 0.95 - 1.10
Unknown job category 18,147 80,911 1.18 1.11 - 1.25
Enlisted 489,034 1,238,790
Warrant Officer 7760 13,555 0.79 0.69 - 0.89
Commissioned Officer 53,121 227,381 0.70 0.65 - 0.75
Unknown status 2196 25 0.43 0.20 - 0.93
Salary/month: < $1000 122,161 328,187
$1000-$1399 269,500 573,995 0.81 0.77 - 0.85
$1400-$2099 75,523 252,923 0.68 0.63 - 0.72
$2100-$3199 60,528 200,295 0.73 0.68 - 0.79
>$3200 22,203 124,326 0.74 0.66 - 0.83
Unknown 2196 25 -
Army 258,858 459,644
Navy 141,604 423,138 0.61 0.59 - 0.64
Marine Corps 83,377 113,467 0.66 0.63 - 0.70
Air Force 67,942 447,125 0.76 0.73 - 0.78
Coast Guard 330 36,377 0.42 0.37 - 0.48
Service in months: < 22 124,629 262,260
22-54 162,123 269,727 1.05 1.00 - 1.11
55-126 133,608 363,138 0.97 0.92 - 1.02
>127 131,751 584,626 1.12 1.07 - 1.18

aRisk ratios are relative to the first group in each variable category. When the algorithm failed to converge, because of lack of cases in the category, a dash (-) is given.
bIn the 12 months preceding 1 August 1990.

Main Article

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The conclusions, findings, and opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors' affiliated institutions. Use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by any of the groups named above.
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