Third Study of Gulf War Era Vets Underway

Beginning at the end of May 2012, researchers from the Department of Veterans Affairs will conduct a follow-up study of Gulf War-era veterans to learn how their health has changed over time.

The Follow-up Study of a National Cohort of Gulf War and Gulf Era Veterans will ask veterans about health issues that affect them, including chronic medical conditions. It will also ask about their level of physical activity and their use of alcohol and tobacco, as well as about their use of VA health care and satisfaction with their care.

As part of an ongoing long-term study, VA researchers will contact approximately 15,000 Gulf War veterans and 15,000 veterans who served elsewhere during the 1990-1991Gulf War. The study group includes veterans from all branches of service, representing active, Reserve and National Guard members. Women veterans will be oversampled to make sure they are represented in the study, making up 20 percent of the study sample. Veterans will respond via a paper or online survey, and researchers will also review medical records from a sample of study participants.

Additional information about this study can be found at http://www.publichealth.va.gov/epidemiology/studies/gulf-war-follow-up.asp.

###