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Flores AB, Sullivan JA, Yu Y, Friedrich HK. Health Disparities in the Aftermath of Flood Events: A Review of Physical and Mental Health Outcomes with Methodological Considerations in the USA. Curr Environ Health Rep 2024; 11:238-254. [PMID: 38605256 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-024-00446-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This review applies an environmental justice perspective to synthesize knowledge of flood-related health disparities across demographic groups in the USA. The primary aim is to examine differential impacts on physical and mental health outcomes while also assessing methodological considerations such as flood exposure metrics, baseline health metrics, and community engagement. RECENT FINDINGS In our review (n = 27), 65% and 72% of studies identified racial, ethnic, or socio-economic disparities in physical and mental health outcomes post-flooding, respectively. The majority of racial/ethnic disparities were based on Black race, while most socio-economic disparities were based on lower household income. Forty-two percent of studies lacked flood exposure metrics, but often identified disparities. Common flood exposure metrics included self-reported flooding, flood risk models, and satellite-based observations. Seventy percent of studies lacked baseline health measurements or suitable alternatives, and only 19% incorporated community engagement into their research design. The literature consistently finds that both physical and mental health burdens following flooding are unequally shared across racial, ethnic, and socio-economic groups. These findings emphasize the need for disaster risk reduction policies that address underlying vulnerabilities to flooding, unequal exposure to flooding, and progressive funding for recovery efforts. Findings also underscore the importance of methodological enhancements to facilitate precise assessments of flood exposure and health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron B Flores
- School of Geographical Sciences & Urban Planning, Arizona State University, Lattie F. Coor Hall, 975 S Myrtle Ave, Tempe, AZ, 85281, USA.
- Urban Climate Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.
| | - Jonathan A Sullivan
- School of Geography, Development & Environment, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Yilei Yu
- School of Geographical Sciences & Urban Planning, Arizona State University, Lattie F. Coor Hall, 975 S Myrtle Ave, Tempe, AZ, 85281, USA
| | - Hannah K Friedrich
- School of Geography, Development & Environment, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
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Wu Y, Gasevic D, Wen B, Yang Z, Yu P, Zhou G, Zhang Y, Song J, Liu H, Li S, Guo Y. Floods and cause-specific mortality in the UK: a nested case-control study. BMC Med 2024; 22:188. [PMID: 38715068 PMCID: PMC11077877 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-024-03412-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Floods are the most frequent weather-related disaster, causing significant health impacts worldwide. Limited studies have examined the long-term consequences of flooding exposure. METHODS Flood data were retrieved from the Dartmouth Flood Observatory and linked with health data from 499,487 UK Biobank participants. To calculate the annual cumulative flooding exposure, we multiplied the duration and severity of each flood event and then summed these values for each year. We conducted a nested case-control analysis to evaluate the long-term effect of flooding exposure on all-cause and cause-specific mortality. Each case was matched with eight controls. Flooding exposure was modelled using a distributed lag non-linear model to capture its nonlinear and lagged effects. RESULTS The risk of all-cause mortality increased by 6.7% (odds ratio (OR): 1.067, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.063-1.071) for every unit increase in flood index after confounders had been controlled for. The mortality risk from neurological and mental diseases was negligible in the current year, but strongest in the lag years 3 and 4. By contrast, the risk of mortality from suicide was the strongest in the current year (OR: 1.018, 95% CI: 1.008-1.028), and attenuated to lag year 5. Participants with higher levels of education and household income had a higher estimated risk of death from most causes whereas the risk of suicide-related mortality was higher among participants who were obese, had lower household income, engaged in less physical activity, were non-moderate alcohol consumers, and those living in more deprived areas. CONCLUSIONS Long-term exposure to floods is associated with an increased risk of mortality. The health consequences of flooding exposure would vary across different periods after the event, with different profiles of vulnerable populations identified for different causes of death. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the long-term impacts of flooding exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Wu
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Level 2, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
| | - Danijela Gasevic
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Level 2, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
| | - Bo Wen
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Level 2, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
| | - Zhengyu Yang
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Level 2, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
| | - Pei Yu
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Level 2, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
| | - Guowei Zhou
- Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
| | - Jiangning Song
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - Hong Liu
- Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
| | - Shanshan Li
- Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
| | - Yuming Guo
- Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China.
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Weinberger KR, Veeravalli N, Wu X, Nassikas NJ, Spangler KR, Joyce NR, Wellenius GA. Long-term Impact of Tropical Cyclones on Disease Exacerbation Among Children with Asthma in the Eastern United States, 2000-2018. Epidemiology 2024; 35:398-407. [PMID: 38630511 DOI: 10.1097/ede.0000000000001728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tropical cyclones are associated with acute increases in mortality and morbidity, but few studies have examined their longer-term health consequences. We assessed whether tropical cyclones are associated with a higher frequency of symptom exacerbation among children with asthma in the following 12 months in eastern United States counties, 2000-2018. METHODS We defined exposure to tropical cyclones as a maximum sustained windspeed >21 meters/second at the county center and used coarsened exact matching to match each exposed county to one or more unexposed counties. We used longitudinal, de-identified administrative claims data to estimate the county-level, monthly risk of experiencing at least one asthma exacerbation requiring medical attention among commercially insured children aged 5-17 with prior diagnosis of asthma. We used a difference-in-differences approach implemented via a Poisson fixed effects model to compare the risk of asthma exacerbation in the 12 months before versus after each storm in exposed versus unexposed counties. RESULTS Across 43 tropical cyclones impacting the eastern United States, we did not observe evidence of an increase in the risk of symptom exacerbation in the 12 months following the storm (random-effects meta-analytic summary estimate: risk ratio = 1.03 [95% confidence interval = 0.96, 1.10], I2 = 17%). However, certain storms, such as Hurricane Sandy, were associated with a higher risk of symptom exacerbation. CONCLUSIONS These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that some tropical cyclones are detrimental to children's respiratory health. However, tropical cyclones were not associated in aggregate with long-term exacerbation of clinically apparent asthma symptoms among a population of children with commercial health insurance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate R Weinberger
- From the School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI
| | | | - Xiao Wu
- Department of Biostatistics, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, NY
| | - Nicholas J Nassikas
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Keith R Spangler
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA
| | - Nina R Joyce
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI
| | - Gregory A Wellenius
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA
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Luedders J, Poole JA, Rorie AC. Extreme Weather Events and Asthma. Immunol Allergy Clin North Am 2024; 44:35-44. [PMID: 37973258 DOI: 10.1016/j.iac.2023.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
The objective of this article is to review recent literature on the implications of extreme weather events such as thunderstorms, wildfires, tropical cyclones, freshwater flooding, and temperature extremes in relationship to asthma symptoms. Several studies have shown worsening of asthma symptoms with thunderstorms, wildfires, tropical cyclones, freshwater flooding, and temperature extremes. In particular, thunderstorm asthma can be exacerbated by certain factors such as temperature, precipitation, and allergen sensitization. Therefore, it is imperative that the allergy and immunology community be aware of the health effects associated with these extreme weather events in order to educate patients and engage in mitigation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennilee Luedders
- Division of Allergy & Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985990 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA.
| | - Jill A Poole
- Division of Allergy & Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985990 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Andrew C Rorie
- Division of Allergy & Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985990 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
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Li Y, Buendia J, Sears S, Ibrahimovic M, Bertero H, Wiseman R, Bhakta N. Impact of Hurricane Harvey on Inpatient Asthma Hospitalization Visits Within Southeast Texas, 2016-2019. J Occup Environ Med 2023; 65:924-930. [PMID: 37488772 DOI: 10.1097/jom.0000000000002928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/26/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of the study is to estimate inpatient asthma hospital visit rates among impacted Texans in Public Health Region 6/5S during the year of and after Hurricane Harvey. METHODS Asthma inpatient hospitalization discharges were collected from the Texas Health Care Information Collection database (2016-2019). RESULTS Females (age-adjusted rates [AARs] = 4.8-5.0) and Black Texans (AARs = 5.0-8.1) experienced significantly higher AARs compared with males and White Texans during the year of and after Harvey. During the year of Hurricane Harvey, females were 1.49 times as likely to have an inpatient asthma visit compared with males, while Black Texans were 2.78 times as likely to have an inpatient asthma hospitalization compared with White Texans. CONCLUSIONS Findings from this study may assist public health professionals and local officials to allocate future resources to the most impacted subgroups as well as establish effective processes to mitigate consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiyao Li
- From the Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention Section, Department of State Health Services, Austin, Texas
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Lavin R, Couig MP, Kelley PW, Schwarts T, Ramos F. Healthcare Impacts Associated with Federally Declared Disasters-Hurricanes Gustave and Ike. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:5388. [PMID: 37048001 PMCID: PMC10094278 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20075388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
People impacted by disasters may have adverse non-communicable disease health effects associated with the disaster. This research examined the independent and joint impacts of federally declared disasters on the diagnosis of hypertension (HTN), diabetes (DM), anxiety, and medication changes 6 months before and after a disaster. Patients seen in zip codes that received a federal disaster declaration for Hurricanes Gustave or Ike in 2008 and who had electronic health records captured by MarketScan® were analyzed. The analysis included patients seen 6 months before or after Hurricanes Gustav and Ike in 2008 and who were diagnosed with HTN, DM, or anxiety. There was a statistically significant association between post-disaster and diagnosis of hypertension, X2 (1, n = 19,328) = 3.985, p = 0.04. There was no association post-disaster and diabetes X2 (1, n = 19,328) = 0.778, p = 0.378 or anxiety, X2 (1, n = 19,328) = 0.017, p = 0.898. The research showed that there was a change in the diagnosis of HTN after a disaster. Changes in HTN are an additional important consideration for clinicians in disaster-prone areas. Data about non-communicable diseases help healthcare disaster planners to include primary care needs and providers in the plans to prevent the long-term health impacts of disasters and expedite recovery efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Lavin
- College of Nursing, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
| | - Mary Pat Couig
- College of Nursing, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
| | | | - Thais Schwarts
- Clinical and Translational Science Center, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
| | - Fermin Ramos
- College of Nursing, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
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Climate Change Related Catastrophic Rainfall Events and Non-Communicable Respiratory Disease: A Systematic Review of the Literature. CLIMATE 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/cli10070101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme precipitation events, the impacts of which disproportionately impact urban populations. Pluvial flooding and flooding related sewer backups are thought to result in an increase in potentially hazardous human-pathogen encounters. However, the extent and nature of associations between flooding events and non-communicable respiratory diseases such as chronic bronchitis, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are not well understood. This research seeks to characterize the state of research on flooding and NCRDs through a systematic review of the scientific literature. We conducted a systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus for published scholarly research papers using the terms flooding, monsoon, and tropical storm with terms for common NCRDs such as asthma, COPD, and chronic bronchitis. Papers were included if they covered research studies on individuals with defined outcomes of flooding events. We excluded review papers, case studies, and opinion pieces. We retrieved 200 articles from PubMed, 268 from Web of Science and 203 from Scopus which comprised 345 unique papers. An initial review of abstracts yielded 38 candidate papers. A full text review of each left 16 papers which were included for the review. All papers except for one found a significant association between a severe weather event and increased risk for at least one of the NCRDs included in this research. Our findings further suggest that extreme weather events may worsen pre-existing respiratory conditions and increase the risk of development of asthma. Future work should focus on more precisely defining measure of health outcomes using validated tools to describe asthma and COPD exacerbations. Research efforts should also work to collect granular data on patients’ health status and family history and assess possible confounding and mediating factors such as neighborhood water mitigation infrastructure, housing conditions, pollen counts, and other environmental variables.
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Deng X, Friedman S, Ryan I, Zhang W, Dong G, Rodriguez H, Yu F, Huang W, Nair A, Luo G, Lin S. The independent and synergistic impacts of power outages and floods on hospital admissions for multiple diseases. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 828:154305. [PMID: 35257771 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Highly destructive disasters such as floods and power outages (PO) are becoming more commonplace in the U.S. Few studies examine the effects of floods and PO on health, and no studies examine the synergistic effects of PO and floods, which are increasingly co-occurring events. We examined the independent and synergistic impacts of PO and floods on cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases, respiratory infections, and food-/water-borne diseases (FWBD) in New York State (NYS) from 2002 to 2018. We obtained hospitalization data from the NYS discharge database, PO data from the NYS Department of Public Service, and floods events from NOAA. Distributed lag nonlinear models were used to evaluate the PO/floods-health association while controlling for time-varying confounders. We identified significant increased health risks associated with both the independent effects from PO and floods, and their synergistic effects. Generally, the Rate Ratios (RRs) for the co-occurrence of PO and floods were the highest, followed by PO alone, and then floods alone, especially when PO coverage is >75th percentile of its distribution (1.72% PO coverage). For PO and floods combined, immediate effects (lag 0) were observed for chronic respiratory diseases (RR:1.58, 95%CI: 1.24, 2.00) and FWBD (RR:3.02, 95%CI: 1.60, 5.69), but delayed effects were found for cardiovascular diseases (lag 3, RR:1.13, 95%CI: 1.03, 1.24) and respiratory infections (lag 6, RR:1.85, 95%CI: 1.35, 2.53). The risk association was slightly stronger among females, whites, older adults, and uninsured people but not statistically significant. Improving power system resiliency could be a very effective way to alleviate the burden on hospitals during co-occurring floods. We conclude that PO and floods have independently and jointly led to increased hospitalization for multiple diseases, and more research is needed to confirm our findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinlei Deng
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University at Albany, State University of New York, USA
| | - Samantha Friedman
- Department of Sociology, University at Albany, State University of New York, USA
| | - Ian Ryan
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University at Albany, State University of New York, USA
| | - Wangjian Zhang
- School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Guanghui Dong
- School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | | | - Fangqun Yu
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Australia
| | - Wenzhong Huang
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Australia
| | - Arshad Nair
- Atmospheric Sciences Research Center, University at Albany, State University of New York, USA
| | - Gan Luo
- Atmospheric Sciences Research Center, University at Albany, State University of New York, USA
| | - Shao Lin
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University at Albany, State University of New York, USA; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University at Albany, State University of New York, USA.
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Projecting the Impacts of a Changing Climate: Tropical Cyclones and Flooding. Curr Environ Health Rep 2022; 9:244-262. [PMID: 35403997 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-022-00340-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW There is clear evidence that the earth's climate is changing, largely from anthropogenic causes. Flooding and tropical cyclones have clear impacts on human health in the United States at present, and projections of their health impacts in the future will help inform climate policy, yet to date there have been few quantitative climate health impact projections. RECENT FINDINGS Despite a wealth of studies characterizing health impacts of floods and tropical cyclones, many are better suited for qualitative, rather than quantitative, projections of climate change health impacts. However, a growing number have features that will facilitate their use in quantitative projections, features we highlight here. Further, while it can be difficult to project how exposures to flood and tropical cyclone hazards will change in the future, climate science continues to advance in its capabilities to capture changes in these exposures, including capturing regional variation. Developments in climate epidemiology and climate science are opening new possibilities in projecting the health impacts of floods and tropical cyclones under a changing climate.
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Powerless in the Virgin Islands: Emergency Department and Wound Care Clinic Utilization Following the 2017 Hurricanes Irma and Maria on St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. Disaster Med Public Health Prep 2021; 17:e50. [PMID: 34674786 DOI: 10.1017/dmp.2021.301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The main objective of this work was to characterize the prevalence of acute medical needs by examining emergency department (ED) and outpatient wound care clinic (WCC) visits before, during, and after the 2017 Hurricanes Irma and Maria, in St. Thomas, United States (U.S.) Virgin Islands. METHODS Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used to assess associations between the occurrence of the storms and visits due to injuries and chronic conditions presented to the ED and WCC from September 1, 2016 to May 31, 2018. RESULTS ED visits increased and the rate of injury care was higher during the storms (12 patient visits per day) than before or after the storms (9 patient visits per day). WCC visits increased during (12%) and after the storms (45%), and were associated with patients 60 years and older. The odds of ED and WCC visits due to injury during the storms were significantly higher (odds ratio [OR]: 1.28, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.17, 1.40) than prior to the storms. The odds for visits due to injuries were 1.19 (95% CI: 1.12, 1.28) times higher after the storms. CONCLUSIONS Increases occurred in ED and WCC visits for injury care during the storms and in WCC visits after the storms. Public health preparedness mandates understanding how major hurricanes impact the prevalence of acute medical needs, and the factors that influence decisions to seek medical care, in their wake.
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Asthma-Related Emergency Department Visits in North Carolina Following Hurricane Irene. Disaster Med Public Health Prep 2021; 17:e16. [PMID: 34165061 PMCID: PMC8688575 DOI: 10.1017/dmp.2021.143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Previous research suggests that people with asthma may experience a worsening of symptoms following hurricanes due to changes in environmental exposures, discontinuity in chronic disease management, and stress. The objective of this study was to estimate changes in asthma-related emergency department (ED) visits in North Carolina following Hurricane Irene, which made landfall in August 2011. METHODS Changes in asthma-related ED visits in September to December of 2010 and 2011 were examined using data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Emergency Department and Inpatient Databases. A Poisson generalized linear model was used to estimate the association between Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster declarations following Hurricane Irene and county-level asthma-related ED visits controlling for month, year, and county. RESULTS Following Hurricane Irene, disaster declarations were made for 38 of 100 counties in North Carolina. In September 2010, the rate of asthma-related ED visits for North Carolina was 6 per 10,000 person-months. In September 2011, rates of asthma-related ED visits were similar in counties with and without disaster declarations (7 and 5 per 10,000 person-months, respectively). When adjusting for covariates, there was little or no difference in the rate of asthma ED visits before and after the hurricane between counties with and without a disaster declaration (rate ratio {RR} [95% confidence interval {CI}] = 1.02[0.97, 1.08]). CONCLUSIONS Although risk factors for asthma exacerbations increase following hurricanes, these results found little evidence of an increase in asthma-related ED visits in North Carolina following Hurricane Irene.
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12
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Chen NT, Chen MJ, Wu CD, Guo YL. Emergency room visits for childhood atopic dermatitis are associated with floods? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 773:145435. [PMID: 33940726 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Revised: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Floods are known to increase the level of allergens such as molds in the environments. Under climate change, the frequency of floods could be increased, which highlights the importance of understanding the impacts of floods on atopic diseases. However, there was a lack of studies. This study examines whether floods induce attacks of childhood atopic dermatitis (AD). A retrospective population-based study was conducted in Taiwan Island using Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database. Emergency room (ER) visits for AD were identified among children aged 0-12 years. Weekly data of flood occurrence, number of flood sites, temperature, and air pollution were obtained for each township of the identified cases. A time-stratified case-crossover design was used. The relationship between ER visits for AD and floods was assessed by conditional logistic regression, adjusting for weekly mean temperature, PM2.5 and NO2. There were a total of 55,488 ER visits due to AD during the study period. Such visits increased when flood occurred, and then declined. The effects of floods at the week of flood remained robust, with OR of 1.14 (95% CI = 1.01-1.28) for flood occurrence and 1.31 (95% CI = 1.10-1.55) for the number of flood sites, after adjusting for covariates. Such effects were slightly higher in boys and children aged 1-12 years. This study demonstrated the impact of floods on flare-up of childhood AD, and the effect was most prominently at the week of flood. Healthcare workers should be alarmed for potential increase of AD flare ups after flood events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nai-Tzu Chen
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli 35053, Taiwan; Research Center of Environmental Trace Toxic Substances, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 704302, Taiwan
| | - Mu-Jean Chen
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli 35053, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Da Wu
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli 35053, Taiwan; Department of Geomatics, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan
| | - Yue Leon Guo
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli 35053, Taiwan; Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University (NTU) and NTU Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10055, Taiwan.
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Lieberman-Cribbin W, Liu B, Sheffield P, Schwartz R, Taioli E. Socioeconomic disparities in incidents at toxic sites during Hurricane Harvey. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2021; 31:454-460. [PMID: 33875771 PMCID: PMC8992005 DOI: 10.1038/s41370-021-00324-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hurricane Harvey facilitated exposure to various toxic substances and floodwater throughout the greater Houston metropolitan area. Although disparities exist in this exposure and vulnerable populations can bear a disproportionate impact, no research has integrated disparities in exposure to toxic incidents following Hurricane Harvey. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to analyze the relationship between flooding, socioeconomic status (SES), and toxic site incidents. METHODS Data on toxic site locations, reported releases, and flood water depths during Hurricane Harvey in the greater Houston area were compiled from multiple sources. A multivariable logistic regression was performed to predict the odds of a toxic site release by flooding at the site, SES and racial composition of the census tract. RESULTS 83 out of 1403 toxic sites (5.9%) had reported releases during Hurricane Harvey. The proportion of toxic sites with reported incidents across increasing SES index quintiles were 8.35, 7.67, 5.14, 4.55, and 0.51, respectively. The odds of an incident were lower in the highest SES quintile areas (ORadj = 0.06, 95% CI: 0.01-0.42) compared to the lowest SES quintile. Flooding was similar at toxic sites with and without incidents, and was distributed similarly and highest at toxic sites located in lower SES quintiles. SIGNIFICANCE Despite similar flooding across toxic sites during Hurricane Harvey, areas with lower SES were more likely to have a toxic release during the storm, after accounting for number of toxic sites. Improving quality of maintenance, safety protocols, number of storm-resilient facilities may minimize this disproportionate exposure and its subsequent adverse outcomes among socioeconomically vulnerable populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wil Lieberman-Cribbin
- Department of Population Health Science and Policy and Institute for Translational Epidemiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Joint Center for Disaster Health, Trauma and Resilience, Great Neck, NY, USA
| | - Bian Liu
- Department of Population Health Science and Policy and Institute for Translational Epidemiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Joint Center for Disaster Health, Trauma and Resilience, Great Neck, NY, USA
| | - Perry Sheffield
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rebecca Schwartz
- Department of Population Health Science and Policy and Institute for Translational Epidemiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Joint Center for Disaster Health, Trauma and Resilience, Great Neck, NY, USA
- Department of Occupational Medicine, Epidemiology and Prevention, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra-Northwell, Great Neck, NY, USA
| | - Emanuela Taioli
- Department of Population Health Science and Policy and Institute for Translational Epidemiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Joint Center for Disaster Health, Trauma and Resilience, Great Neck, NY, USA.
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Waddell SL, Jayaweera DT, Mirsaeidi M, Beier JC, Kumar N. Perspectives on the Health Effects of Hurricanes: A Review and Challenges. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:2756. [PMID: 33803162 PMCID: PMC7967478 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18052756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Hurricanes are devastating natural disasters which dramatically modify the physical landscape and alter the socio-physical and biochemical characteristics of the environment, thus exposing the affected communities to new environmental stressors, which persist for weeks to months after the hurricane. This paper has three aims. First, it conceptualizes potential direct and indirect health effects of hurricanes and provides an overview of factors that exacerbate the health effects of hurricanes. Second, it summarizes the literature on the health impact of hurricanes. Finally, it examines the time lag between the hurricane (landfall) and the occurrence of diseases. Two major findings emerge from this paper. Hurricanes are shown to cause and exacerbate multiple diseases, and most adverse health impacts peak within six months following hurricanes. However, chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease and mental disorders, continue to occur for years following the hurricane impact.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Mehdi Mirsaeidi
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA;
| | - John C. Beier
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, Department of Public Health Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA;
| | - Naresh Kumar
- Division of Environmental Health, Department of Public Health Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
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Impact of Hurricanes on Children With Asthma: A Systematic Literature Review. Disaster Med Public Health Prep 2021; 16:777-782. [PMID: 33557998 DOI: 10.1017/dmp.2020.424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Following hurricanes, there can be increases in exacerbations of chronic diseases, such as asthma. Asthma is common among children, and many asthma exacerbations can be prevented. This systematic literature review assessed literature describing the impact of hurricanes on children with asthma in the United States. Medline, Embase, Global Health, PubMed, and Scopus databases were searched for peer-reviewed, English-language articles published January 1990 to June 2019 that described the effect of a hurricane on children with asthma. This search identified 212 articles; 8 met inclusion criteria. All 8 were related to Hurricane Katrina, but research questions and study design varied. Articles included information on asthma after hurricanes from cross-sectional surveys, retrospective chart review, and objective clinical testing. Four articles described discontinuity in health insurance, asthma-related health care, or asthma medication use; and 3 articles examined the relationship between mold exposure and asthma symptoms and reported varying results. The eighth study quantified the burden of asthma among people visiting mobile medical units but did not describe factors associated with asthma symptoms. These results highlight opportunities for future research (eg, on more recent hurricanes) and disaster preparedness planning (eg, strategies to prevent health-care discontinuity among children with asthma).
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Gayle AV, Quint JK, Fuertes EI. Understanding the relationships between environmental factors and exacerbations of COPD. Expert Rev Respir Med 2021; 15:39-50. [PMID: 32713218 DOI: 10.1080/17476348.2020.1801426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are associated with a significant health burden both for patients and healthcare systems. Exposure to various environmental factors increases the risk of exacerbations. AREAS COVERED We searched PubMed and assessed literature published within the last 10 years to include epidemiological evidence on the relationships between air pollution, temperature and COPD exacerbation risk as well as the implications of extreme weather events on exacerbations. EXPERT OPINION Ongoing climate change is expected to increase air pollution levels, global temperature and the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, all of which are associated with COPD exacerbations. Further research is needed using patient-focused methodological approaches to better understand and quantify these relationships, so that effective mitigation strategies that decrease the risk of exacerbations can be developed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia V Gayle
- Respiratory Epidemiology, Occupational Medicine and Public Health, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London , London, UK
- Global Real World Evidence, AstraZeneca Plc , Cambridge, UK
| | - Jennifer K Quint
- Respiratory Epidemiology, Occupational Medicine and Public Health, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London , London, UK
| | - Elaine I Fuertes
- Respiratory Epidemiology, Occupational Medicine and Public Health, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London , London, UK
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Effects of Hurricanes on Emergency Department Utilization: An Analysis Across 7 US Storms. Disaster Med Public Health Prep 2020; 15:762-769. [PMID: 33023692 DOI: 10.1017/dmp.2020.281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Emergency departments (EDs) are critical sources of care after natural disasters such as hurricanes. Understanding the impact on ED utilization by subpopulation and proximity to the hurricane's path can inform emergency preparedness planning. This study examines changes in ED utilization for residents of 344 counties after the occurrence of 7 US hurricanes between 2005 and 2016. METHODS This retrospective observational study used ED data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Inpatient Databases and State Emergency Department Databases. ED utilization rates for weeks during and after hurricanes were compared with pre-hurricane rates, stratified by the proximity of the patient county to the hurricane path, age, and disease category. RESULTS The overall population rate of weekly ED visits changed little post-hurricane, but rates by disease categories and age demonstrated varying results. Utilization rates for respiratory disorders exhibited the largest post-hurricane increase, particularly 2-3 weeks following the hurricane. The change in population rates by disease categories and age tended to be larger for people residing in counties closer to the hurricane path. CONCLUSIONS Changes in ED utilization following hurricanes depend on disease categories, age, and proximity to the hurricane path. Emergency managers could incorporate these factors into their planning processes.
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Banerjee S, Suter MA, Aagaard KM. Interactions between Environmental Exposures and the Microbiome: Implications for Fetal Programming. CURRENT OPINION IN ENDOCRINE AND METABOLIC RESEARCH 2020; 13:39-48. [PMID: 33283070 PMCID: PMC7716732 DOI: 10.1016/j.coemr.2020.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Decades of population-based health outcomes data highlight the importance of understanding how environmental exposures in pregnancy affect maternal and neonatal outcomes. Animal model research and epidemiological studies have revealed that such exposures are able to alter fetal programming through stable changes in the epigenome, including altered DNA methylation patterns and histone modifications in the developing fetus and infant. It is similarly known that while microbes can biotransform environmental chemicals via conjugation and de-conjugation, specific exposures can also alter the community profile and function of the human microbiome. In this review, we consider how alterations to the maternal and or fetal/infant microbiome through environmental exposures could directly and indirectly alter fetal programming. We highlight two specific environmental exposures, cadmium (Cd) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and outline their effects on the developing fetus and the perinatal (maternal and fetal/infant) microbiome. We further consider how chemical exposures in the setting of natural disasters may be of particular importance to environmental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sohini Banerjee
- Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Departments of Molecular & Human Genetics, Molecular & Cell Biology, and Molecular Physiology & Biophysics, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Melissa A. Suter
- Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Departments of Molecular & Human Genetics, Molecular & Cell Biology, and Molecular Physiology & Biophysics, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Kjersti M. Aagaard
- Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Departments of Molecular & Human Genetics, Molecular & Cell Biology, and Molecular Physiology & Biophysics, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030
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Rath B, Swenshon S, Haase K, Szeles T, Jung C, Jacobi F, Myles P. Using a mobile application to detect health needs among children and adolescents who are newly arrived migrants in Europe. J Public Health (Oxf) 2020; 41:840-849. [PMID: 30423143 DOI: 10.1093/pubmed/fdy191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2018] [Revised: 08/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Unprecedented numbers of migrants have arrived in Europe, including children and adolescents. Little is known about their unique health needs. Prospective data collection has been sparse. Mobile applications may help to facilitate global health surveillance. METHODS A pre-validated survey instrument was converted into a mobile application covering self-reported exposures and disruptions of healthcare before/during migration, communicable and non-communicable diseases. Participation was voluntary, anonymous and confidential. RESULTS Data were obtained from 405 migrant children and adolescents in Berlin, Germany, between 7 October 2015 and 15 March 2016 (median age 19 years, range: 1-24; 80.7% males) with the majority from Syria (62.5%), Afghanistan (9.1%) and Iraq (8.2%). In total, 55% were without family, 64% registered asylum-seekers with access to healthcare; 54% had seen a doctor since arrival, with colds or respiratory complaints (37.5 and 13.6%), followed by pain (26.7%) gastrointestinal (12.4%) and skin problems (11.1%). Underlying conditions were reported in 15.6%, predominantly asthma. Overall, 73% reported being up-to date on immunizations, but only 22% held a vaccination record with 46.4% having lost it during migration. CONCLUSIONS The lack of medical and immunization records among newly arrived migrants provides a challenge to healthcare systems. Mobile applications offer rapid screening tools in times of crisis, helping stakeholders with timely information.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Rath
- Department of Public Health, Vienna Vaccine Safety Initiative, Berlin, Germany.,Division of Epidemiology and Public Health, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - S Swenshon
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Psychologische Hochschule Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - K Haase
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Psychologische Hochschule Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - T Szeles
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Psychologische Hochschule Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - C Jung
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Psychologische Hochschule Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - F Jacobi
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Psychologische Hochschule Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - P Myles
- Division of Epidemiology and Public Health, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
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Flores AB, Collins TW, Grineski SE, Chakraborty J. Disparities in Health Effects and Access to Health Care Among Houston Area Residents After Hurricane Harvey. Public Health Rep 2020; 135:511-523. [PMID: 32539542 DOI: 10.1177/0033354920930133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Although research shows that public health is substantially affected during and after disasters, few studies have examined the health effects of Hurricane Harvey, which made landfall on the Texas coast in August 2017. We assessed disparities in physical health, mental health, and health care access after Hurricane Harvey among residents of the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, Texas, metropolitan statistical area (ie, Houston MSA). METHODS We used structured survey data collected through telephone and online surveys from a population-based random sample of Houston MSA residents (n = 403) collected from November 29, 2017, through January 6, 2018. We used descriptive statistics to describe the prevalence of physical health/mental health and health care access outcomes and multivariable generalized linear models to assess disparities (eg, based on race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, disability) in health outcomes. RESULTS Physical health problems disproportionately affected persons who did not evacuate (odds ratio [OR] = 0.41; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.19-0.87). Non-Hispanic black persons were more likely than non-Hispanic white persons to have posttraumatic stress (OR = 5.03; 95% CI, 1.90-13.10), as were persons in households that experienced job loss post-Harvey (vs did not experience job loss post-Harvey; OR = 2.89; 95% CI, 1.14-7.32) and older persons (OR = 1.04; 95% CI, 1.01-1.06). Health care access was constrained for persons whose households lost jobs post-Harvey (vs did not lose jobs post-Harvey; OR = 2.73; 95% CI, 1.29-5.78) and for persons with disabilities (vs without disabilities; OR = 3.19; 95% CI, 1.37-7.45). CONCLUSIONS Our findings underscore the need to plan for and ameliorate public health disparities resulting from climate change-related disasters, which are expected to occur with increased frequency and magnitude.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron B Flores
- 7060Department of Geography, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.,7060Center for Natural & Technological Hazards, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Timothy W Collins
- 7060Department of Geography, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.,7060Center for Natural & Technological Hazards, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Sara E Grineski
- 7060Center for Natural & Technological Hazards, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.,7060Department of Sociology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Jayajit Chakraborty
- 12337Department of Sociology & Anthropology, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
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22
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Zhang W, Kinney PL, Rich DQ, Sheridan SC, Romeiko XX, Dong G, Stern EK, Du Z, Xiao J, Lawrence WR, Lin Z, Hao Y, Lin S. How community vulnerability factors jointly affect multiple health outcomes after catastrophic storms. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2020; 134:105285. [PMID: 31726368 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.105285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2019] [Revised: 10/21/2019] [Accepted: 10/22/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND While previous studies uncovered individual vulnerabilities to health risks during catastrophic storms, few evaluated the population vulnerability which is more important for identifying areas in greatest need of intervention. OBJECTIVES We assessed the association between community factors and multiple health outcomes, and developed a community vulnerability index. METHODS We retained emergency department visits for several health conditions from the 2005-2014 New York Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System. We developed distributed lag nonlinear models at each spatial cluster across eight counties in downstate New York to evaluate the health risk associated with Superstorm Sandy (10/28/2012-11/9/2012) compared to the same period in other years, then defined census tracts in clusters with an elevated risk as "risk-elevated communities", and all others as "unelevated". We used machine-learning techniques to regress the risk elevation status against community factors to determine the contribution of each factor on population vulnerability, and developed a community vulnerability index (CVI). RESULTS Overall, community factors had positive contributions to increased community vulnerabilities to Sandy-related substance abuse (91.35%), injuries (70.51%), cardiovascular diseases (8.01%), and mental disorders (2.71%) but reversely contributed to respiratory diseases (-34.73%). The contribution of low per capita income (max: 22.08%), the percentage of residents living in group quarters (max: 31.39%), the percentage of areas prone to flooding (max: 38.45%), and the percentage of green coverage (max: 29.73%) tended to be larger than other factors. The CVI based on these factors achieved an accuracy of 0.73-0.90 across outcomes. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggested that substance abuse was the most sensitive disease susceptible to less optimal community indicators, whereas respiratory diseases were higher in communities with better social environment. The percentage of residents in group quarters and areas prone to flooding were among dominant predictors for community vulnerabilities. The CVI based on these factors has an appropriate predictive performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wangjian Zhang
- Department of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York, Rensselaer, NY, USA
| | - Patrick L Kinney
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Boston University, MA, USA
| | - David Q Rich
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | | | - Xiaobo Xue Romeiko
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York, Rensselaer, NY, USA
| | - Guanghui Dong
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Eric K Stern
- College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security, and Cyber-Security, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Zhicheng Du
- Department of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jianpeng Xiao
- Department of Occupational Health and Occupational Medicine, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wayne R Lawrence
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University at Albany, State University of New York, Rensselaer, NY, USA
| | - Ziqiang Lin
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York, Rensselaer, NY, USA; Department of Mathematics, University at Albany, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Yuantao Hao
- Department of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Shao Lin
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York, Rensselaer, NY, USA.
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Shukla MA, Woc-Colburn L, Weatherhead JE. Infectious Diseases in the Aftermath of Hurricanes in the United States. CURRENT TROPICAL MEDICINE REPORTS 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s40475-018-0162-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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24
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Myles P, Swenshon S, Haase K, Szeles T, Jung C, Jacobi F, Rath B. A comparative analysis of psychological trauma experienced by children and young adults in two scenarios: evacuation after a natural disaster vs forced migration to escape armed conflict. Public Health 2018; 158:163-175. [PMID: 29628203 DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2018.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2017] [Revised: 03/05/2018] [Accepted: 03/08/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Little is known about the psychological trauma experienced by children and young adults (CYAs) following displacement after natural disasters vs migration from conflict zones. In both instances, the decision to leave is usually cast by the family, and the life of CYAs is suddenly disrupted by external circumstances. STUDY DESIGN An anonymous survey. METHODS The same survey instrument, provided by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN), was used to survey self-reported health needs among CYAs during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina (Health Survey for Children and Adolescents After Katrina) in October 2005-February 2006 and again during the peak of refugee arrivals in Berlin between October 2015 and March 2016. A weighted index to measure cumulative exposure to traumatic stresses during migration was developed along with an unweighted psychological impact score based on the 22-item NCTS psychological impact questionnaire. Spearman's correlation coefficient (rho) was used to assess the correlation between age and the two psychological impact indices. The two-tailed t-test was used to investigate differences in trauma experienced and psychological impact by gender. Logistic regression was used to investigate differences in types of traumatic stress experienced and psychological impact among CYAs displaced because of Hurricane Katrina and those seeking asylum in Berlin. RESULTS The Katrina cohort included a total of 1133 CYAs, the Berlin cohort, a total of 405 CYAs. The median age in the Katrina cohort was 6.73 years (standard deviation [SD] 5.67, range 0-24; 50.13% males) compared with 17.64 years (SD, range 0-24; 83% males) in the Berlin cohort. Comparative analyses were adjusted to age and gender and revealed significant differences between the two cohorts, both with regards to the amount of trauma experienced and the psychological impact. A statistically significant and moderate positive correlation was observed between trauma experienced and psychological impact of migration in the refugee population (rho = 0.4955, P < 0.001); the correlation was less pronounced but still significant in the Katrina cohort (rho = 0.0942, P = 0.0015). Free-text responses revealed that in addition to common concerns about health, housing and safety, refugees were also pre-occupied with language acquisition and the adaptation to a new culture. CONCLUSIONS The observed differences in the experience and the consequences of trauma in displaced CYAs warrant additional investigation. It was replicated that human-made disaster seems to show more traumatising potential than natural disaster. Stakeholders need to be aware of the potential medium and long-term consequences of migration/evacuation and allocate resources accordingly.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Myles
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - S Swenshon
- Psychologische Hochschule, Berlin, Germany
| | - K Haase
- Psychologische Hochschule, Berlin, Germany
| | - T Szeles
- Psychologische Hochschule, Berlin, Germany
| | - C Jung
- Psychologische Hochschule, Berlin, Germany
| | - F Jacobi
- Psychologische Hochschule, Berlin, Germany
| | - B Rath
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK; Vienna Vaccine Safety Initiative, Berlin, Germany; Tulane Hospital for Children, New Orleans, LA, USA.
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Rapp KI, Jack L, Wilson C, Hayes SC, Post R, McKnight E, Malveaux F. Improving Asthma-Related Outcomes Among Children Participating in the Head-Off Environmental Asthma in Louisiana (HEAL), Phase II Study. Health Promot Pract 2017; 19:233-239. [PMID: 29166783 DOI: 10.1177/1524839917740126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Pediatric asthma disproportionately affects low-income and minority children. The HEAL (Head-Off Environmental Asthma in Louisiana), Phase II Project was a collaborative effort with a primary focus to improve pediatric asthma management in New Orleans, Louisiana. The purpose of this article is to report clinical outcomes captured at baseline and 12-month follow-up. METHOD HEAL (Head-off Environmental Asthma in Louisiana), Phase II was a pre-post intervention study that enrolled children ages 2 to 18 years of age with a diagnosis of asthma to receive asthma education within the clinic setting. Enrollees received an asthma education intervention, an environmental evaluation, and a 12-month follow-up session. Endpoints included symptom days, level of asthma control, asthma exacerbations, emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and missed school days. RESULTS The majority of participants were aged 5 years and older, male, Black, and persistent asthmatics. Emergency room visits decreased from 41% to 20% ( p < .001). Improvements in coughing (83% to 62%, p < .001), wheezing (50% to 26%, p < .001), and chest tightness (29% to 18%, p < .001) were also seen. CONCLUSION The novel intervention was associated with improved asthma outcomes among pediatric patients receiving care at the clinical sites in the Greater New Orleans area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristi Isaac Rapp
- 1 Xavier University of Louisiana College of Pharmacy, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Leonard Jack
- 1 Xavier University of Louisiana College of Pharmacy, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Candice Wilson
- 1 Xavier University of Louisiana College of Pharmacy, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | | | - Robert Post
- 3 Daughters of Charity Health Clinics, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Ellen McKnight
- 1 Xavier University of Louisiana College of Pharmacy, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Floyd Malveaux
- 4 Director of the Merck Childhood Asthma Network, Inc., Ellicott City, MD, USA
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the performance of TexKat, the largest Hurricane Katrina Medicaid Emergency Waiver, in providing care to asthmatic children. METHODS Medicaid enrollment and encounter data for 2004 and 2006 from Louisiana and Texas were analyzed in a pre-post comparison. Changes in utilization by children in the waiver were compared to changes in utilization by children in Medicaid in three control groups: children in Louisiana counties that were designated as a disaster assistance area but who were not displaced; children in Louisiana counties that were not designated as a disaster assistance area, and children in Texas. The analysis included prescriptions for controller and quick-relief medications as well as encounters in inpatient, emergency, outpatient, and office settings. RESULTS The sample proportion of TexKat enrollees who had a prescription filled for controller medications fell from 0.37 to 0.28 between 2004 and 2006. By contrast, the sample proportions for the three control groups were relatively unchanged or increased. The inferential analysis indicated that the 2004-2006 change in proportions for the TexKat group differed from the changes for each of the three control groups (p-value < 0.001). For office and emergency department visits, the 2004-2006 decreases in both the proportion of subjects with a visit and the average number of visits for the TexKat group were greater than the changes for the control groups (p-value < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS While TexKat appears to have largely been successful in preventing extreme utilization disruptions, the analysis suggests that children in the program may have received inadequate care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Troy Quast
- a College of Public Health , University of South Florida , Tampa , FL , USA
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Ryan B, Franklin RC, Burkle FM, Aitken P, Smith E, Watt K, Leggat P. Identifying and Describing the Impact of Cyclone, Storm and Flood Related Disasters on Treatment Management, Care and Exacerbations of Non-communicable Diseases and the Implications for Public Health. PLOS CURRENTS 2015; 7:ecurrents.dis.62e9286d152de04799644dcca47d9288. [PMID: 26468423 PMCID: PMC4593706 DOI: 10.1371/currents.dis.62e9286d152de04799644dcca47d9288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Over the last quarter of a century the frequency of natural disasters and the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCD) across the globe have been increasing. For individuals susceptible to, or chronically experiencing, NCDs this has become a significant risk. Disasters jeopardize access to essential treatment, care, equipment, water and food, which can result in an exacerbation of existing conditions or even preventable death. Consequently, there is a need to expand the public health focus of disaster management to include NCDs. To provide a platform for this to occur, this article presents the results from a systematic review that identifies and describes the impact of cyclone, flood and storm related disasters on those susceptible to, or experiencing, NCDs. The NCDs researched were: cardiovascular diseases; cancers; chronic respiratory diseases; and diabetes. METHODS Four electronic publication databases were searched with a date limit of 31 December 2014. The data was analyzed through an aggregation of individual papers to create an overall data description. The data was then grouped by disease to describe the impact of a disaster on treatment management, exacerbation, and health care of people with NCDs. The PRISMA checklist was used to guide presentation of the research. RESULTS The review identified 48 relevant articles. All studies represented developed country data. Disasters interrupt treatment management and overall care for people with NCDs, which results in an increased risk of exacerbation of their illness or even death. The interruption may be caused by a range of factors, such as damaged transport routes, reduced health services, loss of power and evacuations. The health impact varied according to the NCD. For people with chronic respiratory diseases, a disaster increases the risk of acute exacerbation. Meanwhile, for people with cancer, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes there is an increased risk of their illness exacerbating, which can result in death. CONCLUSION Cyclone, flood and storm related disasters impact on treatment management and care for people with NCDs. Possible consequences include exacerbation of illness, complications or even death. There is now a need to expand traditional disaster approaches by public health to incorporate NCDs. This must be guided by the major NCDs identified by the World Health Organization and implemented in-line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction: 2015-2030. This includes understanding all the factors that influence both direct and indirect (preventable) morbidity and mortality related to NCDs during and after disasters. Once achieved, disaster planners and public health professionals will be in a position to develop and implement effective mitigation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Ryan
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Australia; Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service, Australia
| | - Richard C Franklin
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
| | - Frederick M Burkle
- Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts; The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Peter Aitken
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Australia; School of Public Health, Queensland University of Technology, Australia
| | - Erin Smith
- School of Medical Sciences, Edith Cowan University; College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Kerrianne Watt
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Australia; World Safety Organization Collaborating Centre for Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion
| | - Peter Leggat
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia; Faculty of Health Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
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D'Amato G, Holgate ST, Pawankar R, Ledford DK, Cecchi L, Al-Ahmad M, Al-Enezi F, Al-Muhsen S, Ansotegui I, Baena-Cagnani CE, Baker DJ, Bayram H, Bergmann KC, Boulet LP, Buters JTM, D'Amato M, Dorsano S, Douwes J, Finlay SE, Garrasi D, Gómez M, Haahtela T, Halwani R, Hassani Y, Mahboub B, Marks G, Michelozzi P, Montagni M, Nunes C, Oh JJW, Popov TA, Portnoy J, Ridolo E, Rosário N, Rottem M, Sánchez-Borges M, Sibanda E, Sienra-Monge JJ, Vitale C, Annesi-Maesano I. Meteorological conditions, climate change, new emerging factors, and asthma and related allergic disorders. A statement of the World Allergy Organization. World Allergy Organ J 2015; 8:25. [PMID: 26207160 PMCID: PMC4499913 DOI: 10.1186/s40413-015-0073-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 244] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2015] [Accepted: 05/29/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The prevalence of allergic airway diseases such as asthma and rhinitis has increased dramatically to epidemic proportions worldwide. Besides air pollution from industry derived emissions and motor vehicles, the rising trend can only be explained by gross changes in the environments where we live. The world economy has been transformed over the last 25 years with developing countries being at the core of these changes. Around the planet, in both developed and developing countries, environments are undergoing profound changes. Many of these changes are considered to have negative effects on respiratory health and to enhance the frequency and severity of respiratory diseases such as asthma in the general population. Increased concentrations of greenhouse gases, and especially carbon dioxide (CO2), in the atmosphere have already warmed the planet substantially, causing more severe and prolonged heat waves, variability in temperature, increased air pollution, forest fires, droughts, and floods – all of which can put the respiratory health of the public at risk. These changes in climate and air quality have a measurable impact not only on the morbidity but also the mortality of patients with asthma and other respiratory diseases. The massive increase in emissions of air pollutants due to economic and industrial growth in the last century has made air quality an environmental problem of the first order in a large number of regions of the world. A body of evidence suggests that major changes to our world are occurring and involve the atmosphere and its associated climate. These changes, including global warming induced by human activity, have an impact on the biosphere, biodiversity, and the human environment. Mitigating this huge health impact and reversing the effects of these changes are major challenges. This statement of the World Allergy Organization (WAO) raises the importance of this health hazard and highlights the facts on climate-related health impacts, including: deaths and acute morbidity due to heat waves and extreme meteorological events; increased frequency of acute cardio-respiratory events due to higher concentrations of ground level ozone; changes in the frequency of respiratory diseases due to trans-boundary particle pollution; altered spatial and temporal distribution of allergens (pollens, molds, and mites); and some infectious disease vectors. According to this report, these impacts will not only affect those with current asthma but also increase the incidence and prevalence of allergic respiratory conditions and of asthma. The effects of climate change on respiratory allergy are still not well defined, and more studies addressing this topic are needed. Global warming is expected to affect the start, duration, and intensity of the pollen season on the one hand, and the rate of asthma exacerbations due to air pollution, respiratory infections, and/or cold air inhalation, and other conditions on the other hand.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gennaro D'Amato
- Department of Respiratory Diseases, Division of Pneumology and Allergology, High Specialty Hospital "A. Cardarelli" Napoli, Italy, University of Naples Medical School, Via Rione Sirignano, 10, 80121 Napoli, Italy
| | - Stephen T Holgate
- Southampton General Hospital, Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Southampton, Hampshire, UK
| | - Ruby Pawankar
- Department of Pediatrics, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Dennis K Ledford
- Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida
| | - Lorenzo Cecchi
- Interdepartmental Centre of Bioclimatology, University of Florence Allergy and Clinical Immunology Section, Azienda Sanitaria di Prato, Italy
| | - Mona Al-Ahmad
- Department of Allergy, Al-Rashid Center, Ministry of Health, Khobar, Kuwait
| | - Fatma Al-Enezi
- Al-Rashid Allergy and Respiratory Center, Khobar, Kuwait
| | - Saleh Al-Muhsen
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ignacio Ansotegui
- Department of Allergy and Immunology, Hospital Quirón Bizkaia, Erandio, Spain
| | - Carlos E Baena-Cagnani
- Centre for Research in Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Catholic University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - David J Baker
- Emeritus Consultant Anaesthesiologist, SAMU de Paris, Hôpital Necker - Enfants Malades, Paris, France
| | - Hasan Bayram
- Department of Chest Diseases, Respiratory Research Laboratory, Allergy Division, School of Medicine, University of Gaziantep, Şehitkamil/Gaziantep, 27310 Turkey
| | | | - Louis-Philippe Boulet
- Quebec Heart and Lung Institute, Laval University, 2725 chemin Sainte-Foy, Quebec City, G1V 4G5 Canada
| | - Jeroen T M Buters
- ZAUM - Center of Allergy and Environment, Helmholtz Zentrum München/Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Maria D'Amato
- University of Naples, Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Naples, Italy
| | - Sofia Dorsano
- World Allergy Organization, Milwaukee, Wisconsin United States
| | - Jeroen Douwes
- Centre for Public Health Research, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Sarah Elise Finlay
- Consultant in Emergency Medicine, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, UK
| | - Donata Garrasi
- Development Assistance Committee, Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development, Paris, France
| | | | - Tari Haahtela
- Skin and Allergy Hospital, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Rabih Halwani
- Prince Naif Center for Immunology Research, College of Medicine, King Saud University, P.O.Box 2925, Postal Code 11461 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Youssouf Hassani
- Epidemiology of Respiratory and Allergic Disease Department, UMR-S, Institute Pierre Louis of Epidemiology and Public Health, INSERM Medical School Saint-Antoine, UPMC Sorbonne Universités, Paris, France
| | - Basam Mahboub
- University of Sharjah, and, Rashid Hospital DHA, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Guy Marks
- South Western Sydney Clinical School, UNSW, Australia and Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Paola Michelozzi
- Dipartimento Epidemiologia Regione Lazio, UOC Epidemiologia Ambientale, Roma, Italy
| | - Marcello Montagni
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Via Gramsci 14, 43100 Parma, Italy
| | - Carlos Nunes
- Center of Allergy of Algarve, Hospital Particular do Algarve, Particular do Algarve, Brasil
| | - Jay Jae-Won Oh
- Department of Pediatrics, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Todor A Popov
- Clinic of Allergy and Asthma, Medical University in Sofia, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Jay Portnoy
- Children's Mercy Hospitals & Clinics, Kansas City, Missouri USA
| | - Erminia Ridolo
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Via Gramsci 14, 43100 Parma, Italy
| | - Nelson Rosário
- Division of Pediatric Respiratory Medicine, Hospital de Clínicas, Federal University of Parana, Rua Tte. João Gomes da Silva 226, 80810-100 Curitiba, PR Brazil
| | - Menachem Rottem
- Allergy Asthma and Immunology, Emek Medical Center, Afula, and the Rappaport Faculty of Medicine Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | | | - Elopy Sibanda
- Asthma, Allergy and Immune Dysfunction Clinic, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Juan José Sienra-Monge
- Allergy and Immunology Department, Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez, SSA, México City, Mexico
| | - Carolina Vitale
- University of Naples, Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Naples, Italy
| | - Isabella Annesi-Maesano
- Epidemiology of Respiratory and Allergic Disease Department (EPAR), Institute Pierre Louis of Epidemiology and Public Health, UMR-S 1136, INSERM, Paris, France ; UPMC, Sorbonne Universités, Medical School Saint-Antoine, 803-804-806, 8 etage/Floor 27, Rue Chaligny, CEDEX 12, 75571 Paris, France
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Aitken P, Franklin RC, Lawlor J, Mitchell R, Watt K, Furyk J, Small N, Lovegrove L, Leggat P. Emergency Department Presentations following Tropical Cyclone Yasi. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0131196. [PMID: 26111010 PMCID: PMC4481345 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0131196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2014] [Accepted: 05/31/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Emergency departments see an increase in cases during cyclones. The aim of this study is to describe patient presentations to the Emergency Department (ED) of a tertiary level hospital (Townsville) following a tropical cyclone (Yasi). Specific areas of focus include changes in: patient demographics (age and gender), triage categories, and classification of diseases. Methods Data were extracted from the Townsville Hospitals ED information system (EDIS) for three periods in 2009, 2010 and 2011 to coincide with formation of Cyclone Yasi (31 January 2011) to six days after Yasi crossed the coast line (8 February 2012). The analysis explored the changes in ICD10-AM 4-character classification and presented at the Chapter level. Results There was a marked increase in the number of patients attending the ED during Yasi, particularly those aged over 65 years with a maximum daily attendance of 372 patients on 4 Feb 2011. The most marked increases were in: Triage categories - 4 and 5; and ICD categories - diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue (L00-L99), and factors influencing health care status (Z00-Z99). The most common diagnostic presentation across all years was injury (S00-T98). Discussion There was an increase in presentations to the ED of TTH, which peaked in the first 24 – 48 hours following the cyclone and returned to normal over a five-day period. The changes in presentations were mostly an amplification of normal attendance patterns with some altered areas of activity. Injury patterns are similar to overseas experience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Aitken
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Queensville, Townsville, Australia
- Emergency Department, The Townsville Hospital, Townsville, Queensville, Australia
| | - Richard Charles Franklin
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Queensville, Townsville, Australia
- Royal Life Saving Society - Australia, Sydney, Australia
- * E-mail:
| | - Jenine Lawlor
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Queensville, Townsville, Australia
- Emergency Department, The Townsville Hospital, Townsville, Queensville, Australia
| | - Rob Mitchell
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Queensville, Townsville, Australia
- Emergency Department, The Townsville Hospital, Townsville, Queensville, Australia
| | - Kerrianne Watt
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Queensville, Townsville, Australia
| | - Jeremy Furyk
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Queensville, Townsville, Australia
- Emergency Department, The Townsville Hospital, Townsville, Queensville, Australia
| | - Niall Small
- Emergency Department, The Townsville Hospital, Townsville, Queensville, Australia
| | - Leone Lovegrove
- Emergency Department, The Townsville Hospital, Townsville, Queensville, Australia
| | - Peter Leggat
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Queensville, Townsville, Australia
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Inamdar AA, Bennett JW. Volatile organic compounds from fungi isolated after hurricane katrina induce developmental defects and apoptosis in a Drosophila melanogaster model. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY 2015; 30:614-620. [PMID: 24307503 DOI: 10.1002/tox.21933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2013] [Accepted: 11/25/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
In previous work, our laboratory developed a Drosophila model for studying the adverse effects of fungal volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by growing cultures of molds. In this report, we have extended these studies and compared the toxic effects of fungal VOCs emitted from living cultures of four molds isolated after Hurricane Katrina from a flooded home in New Orleans. Strains of Aspergillus, Mucor, Penicillium, and Trichoderma were grown with wild-type larvae and the toxic effects of volatile products on the developmental stages of Drosophila larvae were evaluated. Furthermore, heterozygous mutants of Drosophila carrying the apoptotic genes, reaper and dronc, were used to assess the role of apoptosis in fungal VOCs mediated toxicity. Third-instar larvae of Drosophila carrying these apoptotic genes were exposed to fungal VOCs emitted from growing mold cultures for 10 days. The larval strains carrying apoptopic genes survived longer than the control wild type larvae; moreover, of those that survived, heterozygous reaper and dronc strains progressed to pupae and adult phases more rapidly, suggesting that fungal VOCs may induce apoptotic changes in flies. These data lend support to the use of Drosophila as an inexpensive and genetically versatile toxicological model to investigate the mechanistic basis for some of the human illnesses/symptoms associated with exposure to mold-contaminated indoor air, especially after hurricanes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arati A Inamdar
- Department of Plant Biology and Pathology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey, 08901, USA
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Arcaya MC, Lowe SR, Rhodes JE, Waters MC, Subramanian SV. Association of PTSD symptoms with asthma attacks among hurricane Katrina survivors. J Trauma Stress 2014; 27:725-9. [PMID: 25470787 PMCID: PMC4641565 DOI: 10.1002/jts.21976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and asthma in the wake of natural disasters is poorly understood. Using pre- and postdisaster data (N = 405) from the Resilience in Survivors of Katrina (RISK) project, we examined associations between PTSD symptoms, measured by the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), and self-reported postdisaster asthma attacks. A 1-point increase in the IES-R avoidance score, which corresponded to one standard deviation change in this sample, was associated with double the odds of reporting an asthma attack or episode since the hurricane, 95% CI Revise spacing among characters: [1.22, 4.16]. Association with hyperarousal and intrusion symptoms was null. Further research using objective measures of asthma morbidity is needed; nevertheless, these findings may help inform postdisaster health services delivery and predisaster mitigation planning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana C. Arcaya
- Center for Population and Development Studies, Harvard School of Public Health, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sarah R. Lowe
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, USA
| | - Jean E. Rhodes
- Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Mary C. Waters
- Department of Sociology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - S. V. Subramanian
- Department of Society, Human Development and Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Schmeltz MT, González SK, Fuentes L, Kwan A, Ortega-Williams A, Cowan LP. Lessons from Hurricane Sandy: a community response in Brooklyn, New York. J Urban Health 2013; 90:799-809. [PMID: 24022182 PMCID: PMC3795193 DOI: 10.1007/s11524-013-9832-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The frequency and intensity of extreme weather events have increased in recent decades; one example is Hurricane Sandy. If the frequency and severity continue or increase, adaptation and mitigation efforts are needed to protect vulnerable populations and improve daily life under changed weather conditions. This field report examines the devastation due to Hurricane Sandy experienced in Red Hook, Brooklyn, New York, a neighborhood consisting of geographically isolated low-lying commercial and residential units, with a concentration of low-income housing, and disproportionate rates of poverty and poor health outcomes largely experienced by Black and Latino residents. Multiple sources of data were reviewed, including street canvasses, governmental reports, community flyers, and meeting transcripts, as well as firsthand observations by a local nonprofit Red Hook Initiative (RHI) and community members, and social media accounts of the effects of Sandy and the response to daily needs. These data are considered within existing theory, evidence, and practice on protecting public health during extreme weather events. Firsthand observations show that a community-based organization in Red Hook, RHI, was at the center of the response to disaster relief, despite the lack of staff training in response to events such as Hurricane Sandy. Review of these data underscores that adaptation and response to climate change and likely resultant extreme weather is a dynamic process requiring an official coordinated governmental response along with on-the-ground volunteer community responders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael T. Schmeltz
- />School of Public Health and Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, NY USA
| | - Sonia K. González
- />School of Public Health and Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, NY USA
| | - Liza Fuentes
- />School of Public Health and Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, NY USA
| | - Amy Kwan
- />School of Public Health and Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, NY USA
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Recent publications by ochsner authors. Ochsner J 2012; 12:175-80. [PMID: 22778689 PMCID: PMC3388611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023] Open
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