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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Andrew E Lincoln, ScD, MS1, Tim Bullman, MS1, Han K Kang, DrPH2, Samar DeBakey, MD, MPH3, Mary Paxton, PhD3, David Cowan, PhD, MPH4, Tomoko Hooper, MD, MPH5, and Gary Gackstetter, DVM, MPH, PhD5. (1) Center for the Study of War-Related Illness, Department of Veterans Affairs, 50 Irving Street, NW, Washington, DC 20422, 202-606-5420, Andrew.Lincoln@hq.med.va.gov, (2) Environmental Epidemiology Service, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 1120 20th Street, NW, Rm. 950, Washington, DC 20036, (3) Government Services, ACS, Inc., 5201 Leesburg Pike, Sky3, Suite 600, Falls Church, VA 22041, (4) Deployment Health Clinical Center, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, 6900 Georgia Avenue, NW, Bldg. 2 - Rm.3G04, Washington, DC 20307-5001, (5) Department of Preventive Medicine & Biometrics, Uniformed Services University, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Rm A1040G, Bethesda, MD 20814
Background: Motor vehicle crashes (MVC) are one of few causes of death significantly higher among Gulf War veterans (GWV) compared to non-deployed veterans (NDV) of that era. A condition called “confusion-ataxia syndrome” resulting from exposure to neurotoxic chemicals was hypothesized by a Texas researcher to explain this excess mortality. We investigated whether fatal motor vehicle crashes of GWV differed from those of NDV in ways that support a “confusion-ataxia syndrome” risk factor
Methods: We compared fatal MVC factors among 980 male drivers (571 GWV and 409 NDV). DoD, VA, and Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) databases were linked to provide information on drivers’ demographic, military, and crash characteristics. Preliminary analyses consisted of chi-square tests and calculation of odds ratios.
Results: Crashes of GWV and NDV were not different in terms of characteristics that might be associated with the proposed “confusion-ataxia syndrome.” There were no differences in the first event being an overturned vehicle (OR=1.19, p=0.331), no avoidance maneuvers reported (OR=1.15, p=0.422), speeding >=70 mph (1.23, p=0.319), using restraints (OR=1.07, p=0.634), having any license problem (OR=0.81, p=0.213), having any previous citation or crash (OR=0.95, p=0.690), or testing positive for alcohol (BAC>=0.1) (OR=0.97, p=0.812). However, a greater proportion of GWV tested positive for drugs (OR=10.78, p=0.00013).
Discussion: Comparisons between GWV and NDV male drivers do not support the hypothesis that “confusion-ataxia syndrome” is the basis for the elevated risk in a fatal MVC. The higher proportion of drug use among GWV veterans and consideration of additional FARS variables deserve further study.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Motor Vehicles, Gulf War
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.