Eisen et al., 2005 (Vol. 4)

Population-based, cross-sectional, prevalence, medical evaluation

1061 US deployed and 1128 nondeployed

Atopic dermatitis and verruca vulgaris (warts)

Atopic dermatitis: 1.2% vs 0.3% (OR 8.1, 95% CI 2.4-27.7); verruca vulgaris (warts): 1.6% vs 0.6% (OR 4.02, 95% CI 1.28-12.6)

Age, sex, race, years of education, smoking, duty type, service branch, rank

Low participation rates, especially among nondeployed

Higgins et al., 2002 (Vol. 4)

Prospective case-comparison study

111 disabled and 98 nondisabled UK GWVs; 133 disabled NDV controls (54 deployed to Bosnia and 79 nondeployed era controls) (population randomly sampled from Ismail et al., 2002, cohort)

Skin conditions

No significant difference in prevalence of all skin conditions combined: Disabled GWVs: 47.7% Nondisabled GWVs: 36.7% Disabled NDVs: 42.8% Sebhorrheic dermatitis: 8.1% in disabled deployed vs 2.3% in disabled nondeployed (p = 0.06)

Age, sex, rank, smoking, and alcohol

Response rates: Disabled GWVs: 67% Nondisabled GWVs: 62% Disabled Bosnia: 55% Disabled NDVs: 43%

Ishoy et al., 1999b (Update)

Cross-sectional, prevalence

686 Danish peacekeepers deployed to gulf in 1990-1997 vs 231 age- and sex-matched armed forces nondeployed controls

Health examination by physician, self-report questionnaire

Prevalence of skin conditions with onset after gulf: eczema 15.0% vs 3.0%, p < 0.001; retarded wound healing 6.0% vs 1.7%, p < 0.01; other forms of skin problems 17.1% vs 5.2%, p < 0.001; hair loss or hair disease 4.2% vs 0.9%, p < 0.01; sweaty, clammy, or damp hands 7.9% vs 3.9%, p < 0.05

Participation rate 83.6% deployed, 57.8% nondeployed; lack of information on adjustment for confounders in multivariate analysis