Table 1 Design characteristics of major studies of U.S. veterans of the first Gulf War

Devens Cohort Study

1991

Longitudinal cohort, substudies

In-person surveys and evaluations, mailed surveys

84 units returning from GW through Ft. Devens, MA

Psychological health, domestic and military exposures

Unable to determine^a

[7, 25–27]

New Orleans

1991

Longitudinal cohort, substudies

In-person surveys and evaluations, mailed surveys, phone

Units based in Louisiana

Psychological and physical health, stressors

Unable to determine^a

[8]

VA Registry

1992

Registry, substudies

In-person survey and two-stage health evaluation

Self-nominated veterans of 1st GW and OIF

Physical health, military exposures

Unable to determine^a

[28]

Nat’l Health Survey

1992

Longitudinal cohort, substudies

In-person evaluations, mailed surveys, phone surveys

Stratified random sample of GW-deployed and non-deployed

Physical and psychological health, military exposures

Reviewed by OMB

[10, 29]

PA & HI

1993

Cross-sectional

In-person distribution

All active duty, National Guard, and reserve units in PA and HI

Physical and psychological health

Unable to determine^a; similar survey used in previous studies

[17]

DoD Registry

1994

Registry, substudies

In-person survey and two-stage health evaluation

Self-nominated veterans of 1st GW and OIF

Physical health, military exposures

Unable to determine^a

[30]

Iowa

1995

Cross-sectional, substudies

In-person health evaluation, phone survey

Stratified random sample of GW regular military and NG/Reserve from Iowa

Physical and psychological health, functional status, military exposures

Tested in 24 veterans from the random sample, and 3 non-sampled members of the military

[2]

Seabees

1997

Cross-sectional

Mailed survey, phone survey

Construction Battalion (CB) members who served for 30+ days active duty during GW

Current and past health issues, exposures, behavioral risk factors

Tested in Navy personnel, reviewed by OMB and DoD, test-retest reliability on earlier survey

[12, 31]

OR & WA

1995

Cross-sectional, case–control

In-person health evaluation, mailed survey, phone survey

Random sample of veterans from OR or WA who were deployed to SW Asia between 8/1/90 and 7/31/91

Physical and psychological health, military exposures

Test-retest reliability survey (exposures) in 305 case–control study participants

[32]

Air Nat’l Guard

1994

Cross-sectional, substudies

In-person health evaluation and surveys

GW veterans from a PA-based Air National Guard unit, two AF reserve units (PA, FL), and an active duty AF unit (FL)

Physical health, risk factors for illness

Unable to determine^a

[4, 33]

Kansas I

1998

Cross-sectional

Phone survey

KS veterans or reserve members who served on active duty between 8/90 and 7/91

Physical health, military exposures

Health questions tested in MO veterans

[1]

Kansas II

2000

Case–control

In-person survey and blood draw, phone

Veteran KS/MO residents of Kansas City metropolis, who deployed to GW between 8/1/1990 and 7/31/1991, with Gulf War Illness (cases) or not ill (controls)

Gulf War Illness, military exposures

Tested in veterans residing outside of sampling frame

[14]

Millennium Cohort

2000

Longitudinal cohort

Mailed survey, web survey

Stratified random sample of regular active duty, NG, and reserve

Physical health (chronic illness), risk factors

Focus groups and 1000-participant pilot survey (total 2564 tests)

[34]

Military Health Survey

2007

Cross-sectional, substudies

In-person blood sample, phone survey

Stratified random sample of deployed and deployable nondeployed between 8/2/90 and 7/31/91

Physical health, military exposures, behavioral risk factors

200-veteran sample pilot tested survey content, interview procedures

[16, 35, 36]