Impact of Hurricanes Irma and Maria on Asthma, Hypertension, and Depression in a Sample of the Puerto Rico Population

To evaluate the impact of Hurricanes Irma and Maria on 3 major chronic diseases in Puerto Rico. San Juan Overweight Adults Longitudinal study participants were re-evaluated after Hurricanes Irma and Maria (May 2019-July 2020) for the Preparedness to Reduce Exposures and Diseases Post-hurricanes and...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Disaster medicine and public health preparedness 2023-10, Vol.17, p.e508-e508, Article e508
Main Authors: Martínez-Lozano, Marijulie, Fraticelli, Frank, Irizarry, Jessica, Almodóvar-Rivera, Israel, Nunn, Martha, Joshipura, Kaumudi J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Asthma
Cancer therapies
Chronic illnesses
Climate change
Coronaviruses
Cyclonic Storms
Depression - epidemiology
Depression - etiology
Diabetes
Disease
Emergency preparedness
Heart
Humans
Hurricanes
Hypertension
Hypertension - epidemiology
Informed consent
Infrastructure
Longitudinal Studies
Mental depression
Original Research
Overweight
Pandemics
Puerto Rico - epidemiology
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Summary:To evaluate the impact of Hurricanes Irma and Maria on 3 major chronic diseases in Puerto Rico. San Juan Overweight Adults Longitudinal study participants were re-evaluated after Hurricanes Irma and Maria (May 2019-July 2020) for the Preparedness to Reduce Exposures and Diseases Post-hurricanes and Augment Resilience study. This study compared the prevalence and incidence of asthma, depression, and hypertension within the same 364 individuals over time. Asthma and depression prevalence and incidence did not change significantly after the hurricanes. The prevalence of hypertension increased significantly after the hurricanes (OR = 2.2, 95% CI: 1.2, 3.9). The incidence of hypertension after the hurricanes (IR = 9.0, 95% CI: 6.5, 12.4) increased significantly compared to before the hurricanes (IR = 6.1, 95% CI: 4.5, 8.0) (age-adjusted incidence rate ratio [aIRR] = 1.4, 95% CI: 4.5, 8.0) for similar time periods. Hurricanes Irma and Maria were associated with a significant increase in the prevalence and incidence of hypertension in this study population. Contrary to expectations, no significant increases were observed in depression and asthma prevalence after the hurricanes. Results from this study can inform better strategies to prevent and manage hypertension in the population affected by a hurricane.
ISSN:1935-7893
1938-744X
DOI:10.1017/dmp.2023.170