Gulf War Era Cohort and Biorepository (GWECB)
The GWECB is the largest study of United States veterans who served in the 1990-1991 Gulf War and veterans who served in the military during the time of the 1990-1991 Gulf War but did not deploy to the war (Gulf War era). Fifteen thousand 1990-1991 Gulf War veterans and 15,000 1990-1991 Gulf War era veterans (30,000 veterans total) were invited to participate in the study to determine if the health of 1990-1991 Gulf War veterans was better, worse, or the same as that of 1990-1991 Gulf War era veterans. A total of 11,441 Gulf veterans (75%) and 9,476 non-Gulf veterans (64%) selected for the study participated. Veterans in this study were recontacted in 2005, 2012, and 2023 and asked to take additional surveys about their health and wellness.
Study design
Cohort - occupational, Biobank
Number of participants at first data collection
11,441 (Gulf veterans)
9,476 (non-Gulf veterans)
Age at first data collection
Varied (participants)
Participant year of birth
Varied (participants)
Participant sex
All
Representative sample at baseline?
United States veterans who served during the 1990–1991 Gulf War era.
Sample features
Country
Year of first data collection
1995
Primary Institutions
United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Links
publichealth.va.gov/epidemiology/studies/gulf-war-longitudinal-study.asp
Profile paper DOI
Funders
United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Ongoing?
Yes
Data types collected
- Physical or biological assessment (e.g. blood, saliva, gait, grip strength, anthropometry)
- Secondary data
- Self-report questionnaire – online
- Self-report questionnaire – paper or computer assisted
- None
- None
- Employer data
- Healthcare data
Engagement
Keywords
