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Chronic Disease and Related Conditions at Emergency Treatment Facilities in the New Orleans Area After Hurricane Katrina

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 April 2013

Andrea J. Sharma ,
Edward C. Weiss ,
Stacy L. Young ,
Kevin Stephens ,
Raoult Ratard ,
Susanne Straif-Bourgeois ,
Theresa M. Sokol ,
Peter Vranken  and
Carol H. Rubin
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Abstract

Background: Disaster preparations usually focus on preventing injury and infectious disease. However, people with chronic disease and related conditions (CDRCs), including obstetric/gynecological conditions, may be vulnerable to disruptions caused by disasters.

Methods: We used surveillance data collected after Hurricane Katrina to characterize the burden of visits for CDRCs at emergency treatment facilities (eg, hospitals, disaster medical assistance teams, military aid stations). In 6 parishes in and around New Orleans, health care providers at 29 emergency treatment facilities completed a standardized questionnaire for injury and illness surveillance from September 8 through October 22, 2005.

Results: Of 21,673 health care visits, 58.0% were for illness (24.3% CDRCs, 75.7% non-CDRCs), 29.1% for injury, 7.2% for medication refills, and 5.7% for routine or follow-up care. The proportion of visits for CDRCs increased with age. Among men presenting with CDRCs, the most common illnesses were cardiovascular disease (36.8%), chronic lower-respiratory disease (12.3%), and diabetes/glucose abnormalities (7.7%). Among women presenting with CDRCs, the most common were cardiovascular disease (29.2%), obstetric/gynecological conditions (18.2%), and chronic lower-respiratory disease (12.0%). Subsequent hospitalization occurred among 28.7% of people presenting with CDRCs versus 10.9% of those with non-CDRCs and 3.8% of those with injury.

Conclusions: Our data illustrate the importance of including CDRCs as a part of emergency response planning. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2008;2:27–32)

Keywords

surveillancechronic diseasedisastersLouisianaobstetrics
Type
Original Research and Critical Analysis
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 2 , Issue 1 , March 2008 , pp. 27 - 32
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2008

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