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Assessing Self-Rated Physical Health Scores Following Repeat Exposure to Anthropogenic and Natural Hazards in Houston, TX

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2024

Garett T. Sansom ,
Leanne Fawkes Open the ORCID record for Leanne Fawkes [Opens in a new window] ,
Lindsay Sansom ,
Courtney Thompson ,
Anna Glanzer ,
Lyssa M. Losa  and
Benika Dixon
Garett T. Sansom*
Affiliation:
Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Texas A&M School of Public Health, College Station, TX, USA
Leanne Fawkes
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
Lindsay Sansom
Affiliation:
Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Texas A&M School of Public Health, College Station, TX, USA
Courtney Thompson
Affiliation:
Department of Geography, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
Anna Glanzer
Affiliation:
Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Texas A&M School of Public Health, College Station, TX, USA
Lyssa M. Losa
Affiliation:
Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Texas A&M School of Public Health, College Station, TX, USA
Benika Dixon
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Texas A&M School of Public Health, College Station, TX, USA
*
Corresponding author: Garett T. Sansom; Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

Background

Research connects health outcomes to hazard exposures but often neglects the nature of the exposure or repeated events.

Methods

We undertook a cross-sectional study (N = 1,094) from a representative sample in the Houston Metropolitan Statistical Area (HMSA). Respondents were recruited using Qualtrics panels, targeting individuals reflecting the population of the HMSA. Physical composite scores (PCS) were calculated using the SF-12v2.

Results

Among the hazards (hurricanes, flooding, tornadoes, chemical spills, industrial fires), only chemical spills showed a dose-response: physical health scores declined significantly with repeated exposures. This decline persisted after multiple linear regression. Covariates including sex, race, age, education, and chemical exposure affected PCS, but chemical spill exposure remained the most significant, negatively affecting PCS even after adjusting for other factors (coef =–2.24, 95% CI, –3.33 to –1.15).

Conclusion

Grasping the effects of hazards, especially repeated ones, can guide emergency management in mitigation, recovery, and preparedness efforts.

Keywords

general healthSF12hazardsnatural hazardanthropogenic disasterself-rated health
Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 18 , 2024 , e130
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc

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