J Prev Med Public Health.  2013 Sep;46(5):213-225.

Agent Orange Exposure and Prevalence of Self-reported Diseases in Korean Vietnam Veterans

• Yi SW
• Ohrr H
• Hong JS
• Yi JJ

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between Agent Orange exposure and self-reported diseases in Korean Vietnam veterans.
METHODS
A postal survey of 114 562 Vietnam veterans was conducted. The perceived exposure to Agent Orange was assessed by a 6-item questionnaire. Two proximity-based Agent Orange exposure indices were constructed using division/brigade-level and battalion/company-level unit information. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for age and other confounders were calculated using a logistic regression model.
RESULTS
The prevalence of all self-reported diseases showed monotonically increasing trends as the levels of perceived self-reported exposure increased. The ORs for colon cancer (OR, 1.13), leukemia (OR, 1.56), hypertension (OR, 1.03), peripheral vasculopathy (OR, 1.07), enterocolitis (OR, 1.07), peripheral neuropathy (OR, 1.07), multiple nerve palsy (OR, 1.14), multiple sclerosis (OR, 1.24), skin diseases (OR, 1.05), psychotic diseases (OR, 1.07) and lipidemia (OR, 1.05) were significantly elevated for the high exposure group in the division/brigade-level proximity-based exposure analysis, compared to the low exposure group. The ORs for cerebral infarction (OR, 1.08), chronic bronchitis (OR, 1.05), multiple nerve palsy (OR, 1.07), multiple sclerosis (OR, 1.16), skin diseases (OR, 1.05), and lipidemia (OR, 1.05) were significantly elevated for the high exposure group in the battalion/company-level analysis.
CONCLUSIONS
Korean Vietnam veterans with high exposure to Agent Orange experienced a higher prevalence of several self-reported chronic diseases compared to those with low exposure by proximity-based exposure assessment. The strong positive associations between perceived self-reported exposure and all self-reported diseases should be evaluated with discretion because the likelihood of reporting diseases was directly related to the perceived intensity of Agent Orange exposure.

Keyword

Agent Orange; Herbicides; Korea; Prevalence; Veterans; Vietnam War

MeSH Terms

2,4,5-Trichlorophenoxyacetic Acid/*poisoning
2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid/*poisoning
Cardiovascular Diseases/epidemiology/etiology
Defoliants, Chemical/*poisoning
Endocrine System Diseases/epidemiology/etiology
Gastrointestinal Diseases/epidemiology/etiology
Humans
Logistic Models
Male
Middle Aged
Neoplasms/epidemiology/etiology
Neuromuscular Diseases/epidemiology/etiology
Odds Ratio
Prevalence
Republic of Korea/epidemiology
Respiratory Tract Diseases/epidemiology/etiology
*Self Report
Tetrachlorodibenzodioxin/*poisoning
*Veterans
Vietnam Conflict
2,4,5-Trichlorophenoxyacetic Acid
2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid
Defoliants, Chemical
Tetrachlorodibenzodioxin