We sought to assess quality of life and health-services utilization variables in persons with symptoms suggestive of multiple chemical sensitivity/idiopathic environmental intolerance (MCS/IEI) among military personnel.

We conducted a cross-sectional telephone survey of a population-based sample of Persian Gulf War (PGW) veterans from Iowa and a comparison group of PGW-era military personnel.

A complex sample survey design was used, selecting subjects from four domains :

• PGW active duty,

• PGW National Guard/Reserve, non-PGW active duly, and non-PGW National Guard/Reserve,

• Each domain was substratified by age, gender, race, rank, and military branch.

The criteria for MCS/IEI were developed by expert consensus and from the medical literature.

In the total sample, 169 subjects (4.6%) of the 3695 who participated (76% of those eligible) met our criteria for MCS/IEI.

Persons who met the criteria for MCS/IEI more often reported the following than did other subjects :

• more than 12 days in bed due to disability,

• Veteran's Affairs disability status,

• Veteran's Affairs disability compensation, medical disability, and unemployment.

MCS/IEI cases also had higher outpatient rates of physician visits, emergency department visits, and inpatient hospital stays.

Subjects who met the criteria for MCS/IEI more often reported impaired functioning on each Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form subscale, compared with those who did not meet the criteria. (...)