scholarly journals Examining the National Profile of Chronic Disaster Health Risks in Australia

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (s1) ◽  
pp. s5-s5
Author(s):  
Lennart Reifels ◽  
Michel LA Dückers ◽  
Grant Blashki
Keyword(s):  
Physical Health ◽  
Natural Disaster ◽  
Health Risks ◽  
Population Data ◽  
Lifetime Risk ◽  
Chronic Health ◽  
Response Planning ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
National Profile ◽  
Disaster Exposure

Introduction:Despite a longstanding focus on examining acute health impacts in disaster research, only limited systematic information is available today to further our understanding of chronic physical health risks of disaster exposure. Heterogeneity of studies and disaster events of varying type and scale compounding this challenge highlight the merit of a consistent approach to examining nationally representative population data to understand distinctive profiles of chronic disaster health risks.Aim:This epidemiological study examined the full spectrum and national profile of chronic physical health risks associated with natural and man-made disaster exposure in Australia.Methods:Nationally-representative population survey data (N=8841) were analyzed through multivariate logistic regression, controlling for sociodemographic variables, exposure to natural and man-made disasters, and other traumatic events. Key outcomes included lifetime national chronic health priority conditions (asthma, cancer, stroke, rheumatism/arthritis, diabetes, heart/circulatory) and other conditions of 6 month or more duration (based on the World Health Organization’s WMH-CIDI chronic conditions module).Results:Natural disaster exposure primarily increased the lifetime risk of stroke (AOR 2.06, 95%CI 1.54-2.74). Man-made disaster exposure increased the lifetime risk of stomach ulcer (AOR 2.21, 95%CI 1.14-4.31), migraine (AOR 1.61, 95%CI 1.02-2.56), and heart/circulatory conditions (AOR 2.01, 95%CI 1.07-3.75). Multiple man-made disaster exposure heightened the risk of migraine (AOR 2.98, 95%CI 1.28-6.92) and chronic back or neck conditions (AOR 1.63, 95%CI 1.02-2.62), while multiple natural disaster exposure heightened the risk of stroke (AOR 3.28, 95%CI 1.90-5.67). No other chronic health risks were elevated. Despite the relatively greater chronic health risks linked to man-made disasters, natural disasters were associated overall with more cases of chronic health conditions.Discussion:The analysis of nationally-representative population data provides a consistent method to examine the unique national imprint of disaster exposure and distinct profile of disaster health risks to inform future detection, prevention measures, disaster health preparedness, and response planning.

scholarly journals Psychiatric epidemiology and disaster exposure in Australia

2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (03) ◽  
pp. 310-320 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Reifels ◽  
K. Mills ◽  
M. L. A. Dückers ◽  
M. L. O'Donnell
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Abuse ◽  
Panic Disorder ◽  
Psychiatric Disorder ◽  
Psychiatric Disorders ◽  
Natural Disaster ◽  
Lifetime Risk ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Disaster Exposure ◽  
Disorder Risk

Aims.To examine the lifetime prevalence and risk of psychiatric disorders associated with natural and man-made disaster exposure in Australia.Methods.We utilised data from a nationally representative population survey (N = 8841) which were analysed through univariate and multivariate logistic regression in order to examine the full spectrum of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) affective, anxiety and substance use disorders associated with exposure to natural and man-made disaster.Results.Man-made disaster exposure was primarily associated with an increased lifetime risk (odds ratio (95% CI)) of alcohol abuse disorder 2.29 (1.56–3.37), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) 2.27 (1.36–3.79), obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) 1.95 (1.08–3.51) and major depressive disorder 1.69 (1.01–2.85). Multiple natural disaster exposure was associated with an increased lifetime risk of panic disorder 2.26 (1.11–4.61). Among the broader disorder spectrum examined, alcohol abuse disorder accounted for the single greatest increase in lifetime disorder prevalence associated with man-made disaster exposure, and the greatest number of natural or man-made disaster exposed individuals who had developed a lifetime psychiatric disorder. Despite the relatively greater disorder risk associated with man-made disaster, natural disaster exposure was associated with more cases of psychiatric disorder, likely due to the frequency with which these events occur in Australia.Conclusions.Notwithstanding the inability to draw causal inferences from cross-sectional survey data, population-based analyses provide a comprehensive and consistent method to ascertain the population imprint of psychiatric disorder and disaster exposure. Mental health policy and services should be targeting a range of psychiatric disorders in disaster contexts in addition to the usual focus on PTSD and depression, including alcohol abuse, panic disorder and OCD. Despite the relatively greater disorder risk associated with man-made disaster exposure, the national burden of psychiatric disorder in natural disaster contexts is particularly high.

scholarly journals Early Origins of Body Mass in Later Life: Examining Childhood Risks and Adult Pathways

2021 ◽  
pp. 002214652110054
Author(s):  
Sarah A. Mustillo ◽  
Miao Li ◽  
Patricia Morton ◽  
Kenneth F. Ferraro
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Health Risks ◽  
Early Life ◽  
Life Experiences ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Older Adulthood ◽  
Early Life Exposure ◽  
Nationally Representative

Prior research reveals that negative early-life experiences play a major role in the development of obesity in later life, but few studies identify mechanisms that alter the lifetime risk of obesity. This study examines the influence of negative childhood experiences on body mass index (BMI) and obesity (BMI ≥30) during older adulthood and the psychosocial and behavioral pathways involved. Using a nationally representative sample, we examine the influence of cumulative misfortune as well as five separate domains of misfortune on BMI and obesity. Results show that four of the five domains are associated with BMI and obesity either directly, indirectly, or both. The influence of cumulative misfortune on the outcomes is mediated by three adult factors: socioeconomic status, depressive symptoms, and physical activity. The mediators identified here provide targets for intervention among older adults to help offset the health risks of excess BMI attributable of early-life exposure to misfortune.

Loneliness in Malta: Findings from the first National Prevalence Study

2021 ◽  
pp. 026540752110201
Author(s):  
Marilyn Clark ◽  
Jamie Bonnici ◽  
Andrew Azzopardi
Keyword(s):  
Physical Health ◽  
Early Adulthood ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Sociodemographic Factors ◽  
Household Composition ◽  
Prevalence Studies ◽  
Mortgage Payment ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Mental And Physical Health ◽  
National Prevalence

Loneliness has been examined by an increasing number of scholars, being implicated in numerous detrimental outcomes for mental and physical health. However, most loneliness prevalence studies have focused on particular age groups, thus overlooking how loneliness differs across the lifespan. This study assessed loneliness prevalence in a nationally representative sample ( n = 1,009) of the Maltese population aged 11 years and above using the 11-item De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale, while also identifying associations between loneliness and sociodemographic factors. Results demonstrate that 43.5% of the Maltese population experiences some form of loneliness. The association between loneliness and age demonstrates a nonlinear relationship, with elevated loneliness rates among adolescents, which decrease slightly in early adulthood, before slowly increasing from age 35 onward. Loneliness is also significantly associated with education level, employment status, household composition, mortgage payment status, perception of income, presence of a disability, active citizenship, as well as self-rated physical health, coping ability, and subjective wellbeing. These findings indicate that loneliness is experienced in significant rates across the lifespan, and intervention efforts should be targeted toward individuals of all ages.

PTSD symptom clusters associated with physical health and health care utilization in rural primary care patients exposed to natural disaster

2008 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa A. Polusny ◽  
Barry J. Ries ◽  
Jessica R. Schultz ◽  
Patrick Calhoun ◽  
Lisa Clemensen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Utilization ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Natural Disaster ◽  
Ptsd Symptom ◽  
Symptom Clusters ◽  
Care Utilization ◽  
Rural Primary Care ◽  
Primary Care Patients

scholarly journals Dementia Caregiving, Care Recipient Health, and Financial Burdens

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 56-56
Author(s):  
Rashmita Basu
Keyword(s):  
Physical Health ◽  
Healthcare Costs ◽  
Financial Burden ◽  
Care Recipient ◽  
Positive Feeling ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Financial Burdens ◽  
Health Deterioration ◽  
Retirement Study

Abstract Objective: While about 75% of people with ADRD receive care informally by their family members, relatively little is known about the effect of the quality of caregiving on maintaining carerecipient’s health and financial burden of out-of-pocket (OOP) healthcare costs. The goal of this study is to examine the quality of caregiving on the out-of-pocket healthcare costs among ADRD patients and if caregiving prevents deterioration of physical health of carerecipients. Data and Sample: We used a nationally representative sample of people diagnosed with ADRD from the Aging Demographic and Memory Study, subsample of the Health and Retirement Study. The study sample includes carerecipients whose caregivers participated in the survey (N=261). Outcome measures: Primary outcomes were deterioration of carerecipients’ health (1=yes, 0=no) and annual OOP healthcare costs. The quality of caregiving is captured by if caregiving made them feel good, feel useful and fee closer to carerecipients. More than 70% caregivers reported that caregiving make them feel good or useful. About 60% of carerecipients’ physical health was maintained, and average out-of-pocket costs was $3,701/year ($0-$31,051). Multivariable logit for binary health outcome and OLS regression for OOP cost were estimated. Results: The likelihood of health deterioration was significantly lower for carerecipients whose caregivers reported that caregiving made them feel useful (AOR=5.1, 95% CI: 1.9- 14.5) and lower OOP remained significantly associated with presence of usefulness of caregiving (cost decrease, $3000 [95% CI: $6309-$918). Positive feeling of caregiving is independently associated with lower OOP cost and deterioration of physical health among ADRD patients.

Associations between and coexistence of disadvantages in the oldest old people in Sweden: Patterns of change between 1992 and 2011

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 197-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josephine Heap ◽  
Johan Fritzell ◽  
Carin Lennartsson
Keyword(s):  
Physical Health ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Oldest Old ◽  
Functional Limitations ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Financial Resources ◽  
Old People ◽  
Political Resources ◽  
Physical Health Problems ◽  
Nationally Representative

This study explored changes in the associations between and coexistence of disadvantages in several dimensions of living conditions in the oldest old people in Sweden. We used nationally representative data from 1992 (n = 537), 2002 (n = 621) and 2011 (n = 931). Indicators of limited social resources, limited political resources, limited financial resources, psychological health problems, physical health problems and functional limitations were used. The probability of reporting coexisting disadvantages tended to increase and was particularly elevated in 2002. Physical health problems became more common, and functional limitations, limited financial resources and limited political resources became less common during the studied period. Associations between health-related disadvantages remained fairly stable, whereas associations including other kinds of disadvantages varied somewhat over the studied period. These changes suggest that in general, the composition of coexisting disadvantages is likely to have altered over time. Consequently, the challenges faced by disadvantaged groups in 2011 may have been different from those in 1992. Moreover, the healthcare and social care services directed to older people have undergone significant changes during the past decades. These changes to the system accentuate the vulnerability of people experiencing coexisting disadvantages.

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

2022 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura P Sands ◽  
Quyen Do ◽  
Pang Du ◽  
Rachel Pruchno
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Lung Disease ◽  
Chronic Diseases ◽  
Hospital Admissions ◽  
Panel Study ◽  
Hurricane Sandy ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Disaster Exposure ◽  
New Onset

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.

scholarly journals Ambient Nonmethane Hydrocarbon Levels Along Colorado’s Northern Front Range: Acute and Chronic Health Risks

2018 ◽  
Vol 52 (8) ◽  
pp. 4514-4525 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa M. McKenzie ◽  
Benjamin Blair ◽  
John Hughes ◽  
William B. Allshouse ◽  
Nicola J. Blake ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Risks ◽  
Front Range ◽  
Chronic Health

Older Americans’ Perceptions of the Federal Government’s Pandemic Response: Voices From the COVID-19 Coping Study

2021 ◽  
pp. 016402752110621
Author(s):  
Haley B. Gallo ◽  
Lindsay C. Kobayashi ◽  
Jessica M. Finlay
Keyword(s):  
Political Parties ◽  
Federal Government ◽  
Health Risks ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Older Americans ◽  
Qualitative Thematic Analysis ◽  
Pandemic Response ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Mixed Messages

There is limited understanding of how older adults evaluated the federal government’s COVID-19 response, despite their increased health risks during the pandemic and their important role in politics. We conducted qualitative thematic analysis on a nationally representative subsample of respondents aged 55+ from the COVID-19 Coping Study ( N = 500) who were asked: “How do you feel about federal government responses to and handling of the COVID-19 pandemic?” Analyses identified largely negative opinions about the federal government and former President Trump’s leadership, though some were neutral or positive. Participants expressed concerns that the federal government was undermining science, and that sending mixed messages about personal protective equipment and masks was dangerous. Perspectives were divergent and reflective of the country’s polarization surrounding COVID-19 policies. Results can inform efforts to build unity between political parties and identify strategies that governments can use to better respond to future public health crises.

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