Physician-Diagnosed Respiratory Conditions and Mental Health Symptoms Seven to Nine Years Following the World Trade Center Disaster

Details

• Alternative Title:
  Am J Ind Med
• Personal Author:
  Webber, Mayris P ; Glaser, Michelle S ; Weakley, Jessica ; Soo, Jackie ; Ye, Fen ; Zeig-Owens, Rachel ; Weiden, Michael D. ; Nolan, Anna ; Aldrich, Thomas K. ; Kelly, Kerry ; Prezant, David
• Description:
  Background
  
  This study examines the prevalence of physician-diagnosed respiratory conditions and mental health symptoms in firefighters and emergency medical service workers up to 9 years after rescue/recovery efforts at the World Trade Center (WTC).
  
  Methods
  
  We analyzed FDNY physician and self-reported diagnoses by WTC exposure and quintiles of pulmonary function (FEV1%predicted). We used screening instruments to assess probable PTSD and probable depression.
  
  Results
  
  FDNY physicians most commonly diagnosed asthma (8.8%) and sinusitis (9.7%). The highest prevalence of physician-diagnosed obstructive airway disease (OAD) was in the lowest FEV1%predicted quintile. Participants who arrived earliest on 9/11 were more likely to have physician-diagnosed asthma (OR=1.4). 7% had probable PTSD. 19.4% had probable depression.
  
  Conclusions
  
  Self-reported and physician-diagnosed respiratory conditions remain common, especially among those who arrived earliest at the WTC site. OAD was associated with the lowest pulmonary function. Since respiratory and mental health conditions remain prevalent, ongoing monitoring and treatment is important.
  
  
• Subjects:
  Adolescent Adult Aged Article Emergency Medical Technicians Female Firefighters Health Status Humans Lung Diseases Male Mass Casualty Incidents Mental Disorders Mental Health Middle Aged New York City Occupational Exposure Occupational Medicine Prevalence Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive Respiratory Function Tests Respiratory Health September 11 Terrorist Attacks Smoking World Trade Center Young Adult

  More +
• Source:
  Am J Ind Med. 54(9):661-671
• Pubmed ID:
  21966080
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC3181470
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Funding:
  K23HL08419/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; U10 OH008243/OH/NIOSH CDC HHS/United States ; 3U10-OH008242/OH/NIOSH CDC HHS/United States ; U10 OH008242/OH/NIOSH CDC HHS/United States ; 3U10-OH008243/OH/NIOSH CDC HHS/United States ; K24 AI080298/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; K24A1080298/PHS HHS/United States ; K24 AI080298-01A1/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; K23 HL084191/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States
• Volume:
  54
• Issue:
  9
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:c49f4f07db4908a3ce9482b6fbf4c8c144c8bfe8de05068f6aad75c02edf4513
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/33250/cdc_33250_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 326.27 KB ]