Peritraumatic Stress From a Disaster Increases Risk for Onset of Chronic Diseases Among Older Adults

Abstract

Background and Objectives Our understanding of the impact of disaster exposure on the physical health of older adults is largely based on hospital admissions for acute illnesses in the weeks following a disaster. Studies of longer-term outcomes have centered primarily on mental health. Missing have been studies examining whether exposure to disaster increases the risk for the onset of chronic diseases. We examined the extent to which 2 indicators of disaster exposure (geographic exposure and peritraumatic stress) were associated with new onset of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, arthritis, and lung disease to improve our understanding of the long-term physical health consequences of disaster exposure. Research Design and Methods We linked self-reported data collected prior to and following Hurricane Sandy from a longitudinal panel study with Medicare data to assess time to new onset of chronic diseases in the 4 years after the hurricane. Results We found that older adults who reported high levels of peritraumatic stress from Hurricane Sandy had more than twice the risk of experiencing a new diagnosis of lung disease, diabetes, and arthritis in the 4 years after the hurricane compared to older adults who did not experience high levels of peritraumatic stress. Geographic proximity to the hurricane was not associated with these outcomes. Analyses controlled for known risk factors for the onset of chronic diseases, including demographic, psychosocial, and health risks. Discussion and Implications Findings reveal that physical health effects of disaster-related peritraumatic stress extend beyond the weeks and months after a disaster and include new onset of chronic diseases that are associated with loss of functioning and early mortality.

Health Effects of Cyclones: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Epidemiological Studies

“…Specific CVD morbidity risks associated with cyclone exposures were estimated in four studies. 15 , 62 , 66 , 68 In the month following a large-scale hurricane (e.g., Hurricane Sandy), increased hospitalization risks were found for myocardial infarction [ (95% CI: 1.16, 1.28)] and stroke [ (95% CI: 1.03, 1.11)] for the general population 62 and for congestive heart failure for the people years of age [ (95% CI: 1.17, 1.21)]. 66 One cohort study on 909 individuals years of age reported no statistically significant higher risk of new-onset heart diseases for the participants who lived in high-impacted areas (census blocks with a storm surge of foot, of houses damaged or reported greater than the average number of housing assistance registrations) compared with those who did not in the 4 y after Hurricane Sandy.…”

“… 66 One cohort study on 909 individuals years of age reported no statistically significant higher risk of new-onset heart diseases for the participants who lived in high-impacted areas (census blocks with a storm surge of foot, of houses damaged or reported greater than the average number of housing assistance registrations) compared with those who did not in the 4 y after Hurricane Sandy. 68 Another case-crossover study on 74 tropical cyclones across 175 U.S. counties observed increased risks for being hospitalized owing to heart failure [ (95% CI: 1.04, 1.11)] but not for myocardial infarction, ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, heart rhythm disturbance, or peripheral vascular disease among the population years of age over the 10-d post-cyclone period. 15 These studies of CVD-related excess morbidity were not included in the meta-analysis because there were fewer than three comparable effect estimates for each specific outcome.…”

Longitudinal Associations Between Disaster Damage and Falls/Fear of Falling in Older Adults: 9-Year Follow-Up of Survivors of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami

“…From a gerontological perspective, it is notable that natural disasters erupt frequently in current times ( Curran, 2013 ) and increasingly affect older populations ( Li et al, 2019 ). Older adults are vulnerable to disasters ( Sands et al, 2022 ; Tome et al, 2022 ). When disasters strike, it is difficult for some older adults to pay attention to and comprehend warning messages due to their sensory impairments in visual and hearing capacities ( Mayhorn, 2005 ).…”

“…Additionally, numerous disaster-related stressors have been proven to be linked with disorders of metabolic functions, organ aging, parasecretion, as well as the disruption of healthy lifestyle behaviors ( Fukuda et al, 1999 ; Kivimaki et al, 2022 ; Razzoli et al, 2018 ). Hence, research on the impact of disasters specific to older adults is of rising importance ( Hikichi et al, 2020 ; Sands et al, 2022 ). Along this line of research, previous studies have demonstrated that disaster exposure is strongly associated with postdisaster health problems such as cardiometabolic risks, arthritis, diabetes, dementia, and depression among older adults ( Ikeda et al, 2020 ; Lee et al, 2016 ; Sharma et al, 2008 ; Shiba et al, 2019 ).…”

A pathological convergence theory for non‐communicable diseases

“…Third, one risk factor is usually related to more than one NCD (stress, 91 unhealthy and/or hypercaloric diet, 8 , 9 , 53 obesity, 8 , 10 , 40 , 92 tobacco, 8 , 31 , 53 alcohol consumption, 93 environmental pollutants, 10 , 28 , 94 radiation, 95 and sedentary lifestyle 8 , 9 ). Likewise, an NCD is usually related to more than one risk factor 8 (cancer, 8 , 31 , 92 , 93 , 96 cardiovascular diseases, 8 , 29 , 31 , 93 chronic pulmonary diseases, 9 , 31 , 92 , 96 neurological disorders, 93 , 97 T2DM, 8 , 53 , 92 , 96 arthritis, 92 , 98 and premature senescence, 9 among others).…”