In-theater hospitalizations of US and allied personnel during the 1991 Gulf War

The postwar morbidity of Gulf War veterans has been closely examined. However, data have not been available to evaluate morbidity suffered during the 1991 Gulf War. In this report, the authors examine archived records of hospitalizations in US military facilities in the Kuwaiti theater of operations or those medically evacuated to facilities in Europe. Using multivariable logistic regression modeling, the authors determined that service personnel at greatest odds for "in-theater" hospitalization were enlisted, female, White, Reservist, Army, and health care workers. No increase in odds was observed for oil well fire smoke exposure or possible exposure to the nerve agent hazard areas. Although these data may be incomplete, they represent the best-known data reflecting in-theater hospitalizations during the Gulf War of 1991 and show remarkable similarities in risk factors to those for postwar hospitalization.