Exposure to the World Trade Center Disaster, Health, and Health-Related Quality of Life Nearly 20 Years After 9/11

Details

• Personal Author:
  Ahmadi A ; Alper HE ; Brackbill RM ; Dhanya A ; Millet N ; Sisti JS
• Description:
  Background: Exposure to the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center (WTC) on September 11, 2001, has been associated with several chronic physical and mental health conditions. We assessed the burden, nearly 20 years after the attacks, of several 9/11-related health conditions and indicators of poor health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among individuals exposed to the WTC disaster. Methods: Among individuals enrolled in the longitudinal WTC Health Registry in 2020-2021 (N = 26,964), we estimated post-9/11 prevalence of: self-reported diagnosed physical health conditions known to be associated with WTC exposure; probable posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression; and poor HRQOL indicators. We also compared lifetime prevalence of selected conditions and poor-HRQOL indicators among WTC-exposed rescue and recovery workers and community members, separately, to New York State general population estimates, using multivariable-adjusted logistic regression. Results: Prevalence of post-9/11 physical health conditions ranged from 10.5% (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD) to 26.3% (gastroesophageal reflux disease). Prevalence of probable post-9/11 PTSD and depression were 9.6% and 12.7%, respectively. Lifetime prevalence of physician-diagnosed asthma, COPD, and depression were higher among WTC-exposed individuals compared to the general population. Indicators of poor HRQOL were higher among WTC Registry enrollees relative to the general population, and among enrollees with any physical or probable mental health conditions compared to enrollees without any conditions. Conclusions: Nearly 20 years after 9/11, WTC-exposed populations experience a high burden of health conditions that affect their wellbeing, highlighting the need for continued monitoring of this population. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Mental Health Nervous System Occupational Health Respiratory System Safety September 11 Terrorist Attacks Surveys And Questionnaires
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Health Surveys Health Effects Health Surveys Longitudinal Study Mental Health Post-traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD Quality Of Life Registries Respiratory Health Respiratory Tract Diseases September 11 Terrorist Attacks World Trade Center WTC

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• ISSN:
  0271-3586
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  New York ; New York City Region [OSHA]
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  413-427
• Volume:
  68
• Issue:
  5
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20070790
• Citation:
  Am J Ind Med 2025 May; 68(5):413-427
• Contact Point Address:
  Julia S. Sisti, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, World Trade Center Health Registry, Long Island City, New York, USA
• Email:
  jsisti@health.nyc.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2025
• Performing Organization:
  New York City Health/Mental Hygiene
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20090430
• Source Full Name:
  American Journal of Industrial Medicine
• End Date:
  20260630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:6b02021898b306ee33db52782e128ef3c5a9c23d52dc50d360e932f680b88b29c36741b6a522ab5acdafbf4a7991b0b75c294109f2a35ee6505dab576608aa3d
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/208946/cdc_208946_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 369.47 KB ]