Meta-analysis of self-reported health symptoms in Gulf War-deployed control compared with Gulf War-era control groups
| Full unadjusted meta-analysis results | I2 | ||
| Symptom | No of studies in analysis | OR (95% CI) | |
| Neurological | |||
| Tremors and/or shaking in body parts | 4 | 2.68 (2.53 to 2.84) | 0.32 |
| Dizziness | 10 | 2.34 (2.06 to 2.67) | 0.42 |
| Recurrent headache | 4 | 2.34 (1.74 to 3.15) | 0.94 |
| Numbness and tingling in body parts | 8 | 2.32 (1.96 to 2.74) | 0.89 |
| Loss of balance/coordination | 3 | 2.18 (1.83 to 2.59)* | 0 |
| Headaches | 18 | 1.78 (1.49 to 2.12) | 0.94 |
| Mood cognition | |||
| Feeling detached | 3 | 3.59 (1.83 to 7.03)* | 0.81 |
| Irritability | 14 | 3.21 (2.28 to 4.52) | 0.96 |
| Nightmares | 5 | 2.92 (1.98 to 4.30) | 0.92 |
| Feeling anxious/anxiety | 8 | 2.68 (2.10 to 3.43) | 0.91 |
| Memory problems | 7 | 2.63 (2.10 to 3.30) | 0.91 |
| Trouble finding words | 7 | 2.62 (1.92 to 3.57) | 0.90 |
| Forgetful | 6 | 2.52 (1.80 to 3.52) | 0.94 |
| Difficulty concentrating | 11 | 2.47 (2.06 to 2.96) | 0.89 |
| Feeling depressed | 14 | 2.26 (1.88 to 2.71) | 0.90 |
| Sleep, fatigue | |||
| Fatigue | 15 | 2.74 (2.11 to 3.57) | 0.97 |
| Sleepiness | 5 | 2.49 (1.79 to 3.48) | 0.91 |
| Difficulty sleeping, falling or staying asleep | 11 | 1.91 (1.67 to 2.19) | 0.90 |
| Unrefreshing sleep | 12 | 1.91 (1.59 to 2.30) | 0.87 |
| Lacking energy | 3 | 1.73 (1.52 to 1.97)* | 0.37 |
| Musculoskeletal | |||
| Muscle weakness/loss of strength | 5 | 3.19 (2.73 to 3.74) | 0.64 |
| Joint pain | 17 | 2.36 (1.99 to 2.80) | 0.91 |
| Muscle aches/pain | 13 | 2.36 (1.91 to 2.92) | 0.94 |
| Joint swelling | 3 | 2.35 (1.67 to 3.30)* | 0.92 |
| Joint stiffness | 10 | 2.28 (1.79 to 2.90) | 0.95 |
| Back pain | 9 | 1.47 (1.27 to 1.70) | 0.89 |
| Gastrointestinal | |||
| Diarrhoea/loose stools | 15 | 3.24 (2.51 to 4.17) | 0.93 |
| Loss of appetite | 5 | 2.58 (1.90 to 3.51) | 0.88 |
| Constipation | 6 | 2.20 (1.77 to 2.74) | 0.83 |
| Nausea | 6 | 2.20 (1.61 to 3.02) | 0.85 |
| Abdominal pain and cramps | 11 | 2.08 (1.79 to 2.42) | 0.68 |
| Vomiting | 5 | 1.60 (1.45 to 1.76)* | 0 |
| Flatulence or burping | 4 | 1.45 (1.15 to 1.84)* | 0.88 |
| Dermatological | |||
| Rash | 14 | 3.18 (2.47 to 4.09) | 0.94 |
| Hair loss | 9 | 2.60 (1.85 to 3.67) | 0.92 |
| Itching | 3 | 1.90 (1.59 to 2.27)* | 0.28 |
| Sweating | 3 | 1.67 (1.34 to 2.07)* | 0.87 |
| Cardiac | |||
| Chest pain | 7 | 2.24 (1.92 to 2.61) | 0.75 |
| Rapid/racing heart beat | 3 | 2.04 (1.97 to 2.11) | 0 |
| Irregular heart beat | 3 | 1.78 (1.70 to 1.87) | 0.50 |
| Genitourinary | |||
| Pain during intercourse | 3 | 2.39 (2.12 to 2.70)* | 0.51 |
| Loss of interest in sex | 5 | 2.34 (1.80 to 3.05) | 0.84 |
| Pulmonary | |||
| Shortness of breath | 6 | 2.81 (2.35 to 3.35) | 0.78 |
| Coughing | 11 | 2.02 (1.72 to 2.38) | 0.88 |
| Wheezing | 5 | 1.92 (1.66 to 2.22) | 0.71 |
| Sinus congestion | 9 | 1.63 (1.46 to 1.81) | 0.75 |
| Asthma | 7 | 1.38 (1.20 to 1.58)* | 0.47 |
| Miscellaneous | |||
| Night sweats | 5 | 3.42 (2.73 to 4.29) | 0.72 |
| Bleeding gums | 4 | 2.99 (1.73 to 5.17)* | 0.94 |
| Fever | 6 | 2.30 (1.75 to 3.03) | 0.77 |
| Lump in throat | 3 | 2.26 (1.62 to 3.17)* | 0.65 |
| Weight gain | 3 | 2.16 (1.93 to 2.41)* | 0 |
| Swollen glands | 4 | 1.98 (1.68 to 2.34)* | 0.70 |
| Chemical sensitivity | 4 | 1.95 (1.60 to 2.38) | 0.72 |
| Sore throat | 10 | 1.82 (1.56 to 2.12) | 0.89 |
| Ringing in ears | 6 | 1.69 (1.42 to 2.01) | 0.78 |
↵*OR no longer significant in bias analysis; 95% CI contains null using minimum SE.