Table 4

Factor loadings for final 4-factor confirmatory model for symptoms reported in the UK Study-Gulf Cohort (N = 3,454), UK Study-Bosnia Cohort (N = 1,979), and UK Study-Era Cohort (N = 2,577)

During the past month have you suffered from:
Gastrointestinal/Urogenital
Gastrointestinal



Gulf
Bosnia
Era
Nausea
.78
.56
-
Vomiting
.77
-
-
Diarrhea
.76
.76
.76
Stomach cramp
.74
.73
.71
Constipation
.59
.78
.57
Flatulence or burping
.55
.63
.58
Sore throat
.53
.49
-
Feeling feverish
.52
.51
-
Dry mouth
.48
.49
-
Pain on passing urine
.53
-
-
Burning sensation in sex organs
.48
-
-
Headaches
.48
-
-
Loss or decrease in appetite
.47
-
-
Unintended weight loss greater than 10 lbs.
.43
-
-

Respiratory

Gulf
Bosnia
Era
Unable to breathe deeply enough
.89
.87
.89
Wheezing
.77
.75
.91
Feeling short of breath at rest
.73
.89
.81
Faster breathing than normal
.66
.63
.66
Persistent cough
.50
-
.48
Chest pain
-
.61
-
Rapid heartbeat
-
.51
-

Mood-Cognition

Gulf
Bosnia
Era
Loss of concentration
.93
.70
.79
Forgetfulness
.87
.66
.71
Feeling distant or cut off from others
.77
.80
.86
Avoiding doing things/situations
.74
.67
.75
Irritability/outburst of anger
.64
.71
.74
Feeling unrefreshed after sleep
.62
.68
-
Feeling jumpy/easily startled
.60
.73
.79
Sleeping difficulties
.57
.66
.56
Feeling disoriented
.57
.64
.70
Fatigue
.57
.53
-
Increased sensitivity to noise
.56
.58
.63
Distressing dreams
.52
.66
.78
Loss of interest in sex
.51
.54
.65
Intolerance to alcohol
-
.50
.46
Shaking
-
.45
.55
Night sweats
-
-
.52

Peripheral Nervous

Gulf
Bosnia
Era
Tingling in fingers and arms
.97
.99
.91
Numbness or tingling in fingers or toes
.84
.89
.90
Tingling in legs and arms
.77
.80
.89

- Blank entries in the table indicate that symptom had a factor loading < .40 during the exploratory phase and was not considered in the confirmatory model

Nisenbaum et al. Population Health Metrics 2004 2:8   doi:10.1186/1478-7954-2-8