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VA Cooperative Studies Program (CSP)

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Army Chemical Corps Vietnam-Era Veterans Health Study

 

Investigator Access

What's Available



Check with the study contact and publications for information on a public dataset, data archive, data enclave, or website where data might be available.

Available Documentation

Dates Data are Available

Access Criteria

Study Characteristics

Objectives
  • To assess the association between herbicide exposure and high blood pressure (hypertension), as a basis for understanding if hypertension is related to military service in Vietnam
  • To understand the relationship between herbicide exposure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Era of Service

Vietnam

Population

A subset of Veterans who served in the U.S. Army Chemical Corps during the Vietnam Era (1965-1973), consisting of personnel who were responsible for the maintenance and distribution or application of chemicals for military operations.

Study Design

Cross-sectional survey

Time Period

2012 - 2013

Setting

National

N

Analysis completed for 3,086 Veterans (1,477 Vietnam, 1,609 Non-Vietnam)

Response Rate

Survey respondents: 79.3%
Medical records collected (of those who consented): 93.4%
Completed in-home visit: 63.8%

Recruitment Method
  • An initial survey packet
  • Reminder postcard
  • Two additional packets were mailed to eligible Veterans

Addresses were mainly identified from the IRS Taxpayer Address Retrieval System.

Compensation
  • $2 included with each mail questionnaire and $5 cash included with a refusal conversion mail questionnaire
  • $50 check for a completed and returned mail questionnaire or medical record consent form
  • $100 for a completed in-home blood pressure measurement by a medical technician

Data Collected
  • Demographics
  • Self-reported health outcomes and sprayer status
  • Hypertension risk factors
  • Alcohol and tobacco use
  • Body mass index
  • Blood pressure measurements and pulmonary function

Data Collection Methods 
  • Survey by mail or Computer Assisted Telephone Interviews (CATI)
  • Medical records
  • In-home examinations to measure blood pressure and lung function

Funding Source

Epidemiology Program, Post-Deployment Health Services, Office of Patient Care Services, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

Investigator

Primary Investigator: Yasmin Cypel, PhD

Contact

Yasmin Cypel, Yasmin.Cypel@va.gov

Selected Publications

Cypel YS, Kress AM, Eber SM, Schneiderman AI, Davey VJ. Herbicide exposure, Vietnam service, and hypertension risk in Army Chemical Corps Veterans. J Occup Environ Med 2016; 58:1127-1136. 

Cypel Y, Kang H. Mortality patterns of Army Chemical Corps Veterans who were occupationally exposed to herbicides in Vietnam. Ann Epidemiol 2010; 20:339-346.

Kang HK, Dalager NA, Needham LL, Patterson DG Jr., Lees PS, Yates K, Matanoski GM. Health status of Army Chemical Corps Vietnam Veterans who sprayed defoliant in Vietnam. Am J Ind Med 2006; 49:875-884.

Kang HK, Dalager NA, Needham LL, Patterson DG Jr., Matanoski GM, Kanchanaraksa S, Lees PS. U.S. Army Chemical Corps Vietnam Veterans health study: Preliminary results. Chemosphere 2001; 43:943-949.

More Information

Study website





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