A Comparison of Post-Deployment Hospitalization Incidence Between Vietnam and Gulf War Veterans

Post-conflict hospital admission rates of Marine Corps units deployed to the Gulf War were compared with the rates of similar units returning from the Vietnam Conflict. Overall, and in four of the five postdeployment years, the aggregated Gulf War veterans exhibited lower hospitalization rates than did their Vietnam counterparts. Separately, the infantry and service support units deployed to the Gulf War theater had lower postdeployment hospitalization rates than did the Vietnam veterans. There were no significant hospitalization rate differences between the cohorts of combat engineer and artillery units. Of the veterans that were hospitalized, personnel from both conflicts averaged 1.24 admissions. In comparing hospital admission categories, differences existed between the Vietnam and Gulf War veterans in their proportions of Infective and Parasitic' diseases, Genitourinary' disorders, and Musculoskeletal' disorders; Vietnam veterans had the higher proportions within the first two categories, and Gulf War veterans had a higher proportion of musculoskeletal disorders. The data suggest that Gulf War veterans are not at an increased risk of hospitalization when contrasted with veterans returning from a previous combat engagement, and that the categories of illnesses for which Gulf War veterans are hospitalized do not substantially differ from those incurred by a previously- deployed combat cohort.