Prevalences, odds ratios (OR), and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) of the 15 most frequently self-reported symptoms in the past month ordered by decreasing prevalence in the Gulf War group
| Symptom | All symptoms whether “mild, moderate, or severe” | “Moderate or severe” symptoms only | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gulf War veterans n (%) | Comparison group n (%) | Adj OR* | 95% CI | Gulf War veterans n (%) | Comparison group n (%) | Adj OR* | 95% CI | |
| *Odds ratios are adjusted for service type, rank, age (<20, 20–24, 25–34, ⩾35 years), education, and marital status. | ||||||||
| Feeling unrefreshed after sleep | 937 (66) | 862 (56) | 1.6 | 1.3 to 1.8 | 398 (28) | 285 (18) | 1.7 | 1.4 to 2.1 |
| Fatigue | 937 (66) | 861 (56) | 1.6 | 1.3 to 1.8 | 325 (23) | 243 (16) | 1.6 | 1.3 to 1.9 |
| Headaches | 872 (61) | 828 (54) | 1.3 | 1.1 to 1.6 | 291 (20) | 205 (13) | 1.6 | 1.3 to 2.0 |
| Sleeping difficulties | 851 (60) | 753 (49) | 1.6 | 1.4 to 1.9 | 371 (26) | 253 (16) | 1.8 | 1.5 to 2.2 |
| Irritability/outbursts of anger | 808 (57) | 702 (46) | 1.6 | 1.4 to 1.8 | 309 (22) | 182 (12) | 2.0 | 1.7 to 2.5 |
| Low back pain | 743 (52) | 757 (49) | 1.2 | 1.0 to 1.3 | 308 (22) | 298 (19) | 1.2 | 1.0 to 1.4 |
| General muscle aches or pains | 736 (52) | 707 (46) | 1.3 | 1.1 to 1.5 | 207 (15) | 139 (9) | 1.7 | 1.4 to 2.2 |
| Flatulence or burping | 654 (46) | 624 (40) | 1.3 | 1.1 to 1.5 | 209 (15) | 141 (9) | 1.6 | 1.3 to 2.1 |
| Forgetfulness | 654 (46) | 520 (34) | 1.7 | 1.5 to 2.0 | 195 (14) | 109 (7) | 2.1 | 1.6 to 2.7 |
| Difficulty finding the right word | 643 (45) | 543 (35) | 1.6 | 1.4 to 1.8 | 160 (11) | 82 (5) | 2.3 | 1.7 to 3.0 |
| Loss of concentration | 611 (43) | 448 (29) | 1.9 | 1.6 to 2.3 | 144 (10) | 78 (5) | 2.2 | 1.6 to 2.9 |
| Stiffness in several joints | 556 (39) | 518 (34) | 1.3 | 1.1 to 1.5 | 215 (15) | 175 (11) | 1.4 | 1.2 to 1.8 |
| Rash or skin irritation | 510 (36) | 429 (28) | 1.5 | 1.2 to 1.7 | 215 (15) | 129 (8) | 2.0 | 1.6 to 2.5 |
| Pain, without swelling or redness, in several joints | 498 (35) | 453 (29) | 1.3 | 1.1 to 1.5 | 231 (16) | 197 (13) | 1.3 | 1.1 to 1.6 |
| Itchy or painful eyes | 490 (35) | 424 (27) | 1.4 | 1.2 to 1.7 | 115 (8) | 88 (6) | 1.4 | 1.1 to 1.9 |