Counterpoint: Haley replies

Article Abstract:

Epidemiologists are required to use sound methods for published research without regard to personal points of view. Studies that support a controversial government policy and published by affected government agencies that control public funding for research in a given area are especially deserving of scrutiny. Three government studies related to health effects of the Gulf War on US veterans of the conflict do not stand up to scrutiny, a contention that can be justified point by point. The studies should be reanalyzed with recognition of biases in data.

Finance, Political aspects, Governmental investigations, Government investigations

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Point: bias from the "healthy-warrior effect" and unequal follow-up in three government studies of health effects of the Gulf War

Article Abstract:

Health effects of the Gulf War, based on three studies, were insignificant. The studies found no important differences in death, hospitalization and birth-defect rates between deployed and undeployed groups. The "healthy-warrior effect" must be eliminated as a factor by designing studies that cover comparable deployed and undeployed groups. The effect arises from the fact that a soldier must pass a medical examination to join the military services.

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Counterpoint: negligible "healthy-warrior effect" on Gulf War veterans' mortality

Article Abstract:

Criticisms of research on mortality of US veterans of the Persian Gulf War were unjustified. The Cox proportional hazard model was used to evaluate relative mortality risk. That would correct for a small but significant difference in the demographic and military characteristics between the deployed group and the nondeployed group. It would also correct for the varying follow-up period among veterans of the conflict.

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