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Cardiovascular Disease Hospitalizations in Louisiana Parishes’ Elderly before, during and after Hurricane Katrina

Author

Listed:
  • Ninon A. Becquart

    (Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111, USA
    These two authors contributed equally.)

  • Elena N. Naumova

    (Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111, USA
    School of Medicine, Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111, USA
    These two authors contributed equally.)

  • Gitanjali Singh

    (Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111, USA)

  • Kenneth K. H. Chui

    (Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111, USA
    School of Medicine, Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111, USA)

Abstract

The research on how health and health care disparities impact response to and recovery from a disaster, especially among diverse and underserved populations is in great need for a thorough evaluation. The time series analysis utilizing most complete national databases of medical records is an indispensable tool in assessing the destruction and health toll brought about by natural disasters. In this study, we demonstrated such an application by evaluating the impact of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 on cardiovascular disease (CVD), a primary cause of mortality among older adults that can be aggravated by natural disasters. We compared CVD hospitalizations before, during and after Katrina between white and black residents of three most populated parishes in Louisiana: Orleans and Jefferson, which were severely affected by the landfall and subsequent floods, and East Baton Rouge, which hosted many of the evacuees. We abstracted 383,552 CVD hospitalization records for Louisiana’s patients aged 65+ in 2005–2006 from the database maintained by the Center of Medicare & Medicaid Services. Daily time series of CVD-related hospitalization rates at each study parish were compiled, and the changes were characterized using segmented regression. In Orleans Parish, directly affected by the hurricane, hospitalization rates peaked on the 6th day after landfall with an increase (mean ± SD) from 7.25 ± 2.4 to 18.5 ± 17.3 cases/day per 10,000 adults aged 65+ ( p < 0.001) and returned to pre-landfall level after ~2 months. Disparities in CVD rates between black and white older adults were exacerbated during and following landfall. In Orleans Parish, a week after landfall, the CVD rates increased to 26.3 ± 23.7 and 16.6 ± 11.7 cases/day per 10,000 people ( p < 0.001) for black and white patients, respectively. The abrupt increase in CVDs is likely due to psychosocial and post-traumatic stress caused by the disaster and inadequate response. Inequities in resource allocation and access have to be addressed in disaster preparation and mitigation.

Suggested Citation

  • Ninon A. Becquart & Elena N. Naumova & Gitanjali Singh & Kenneth K. H. Chui, 2018. "Cardiovascular Disease Hospitalizations in Louisiana Parishes’ Elderly before, during and after Hurricane Katrina," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-22, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2018:i:1:p:74-:d:193690
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Siobhan M Mor & Alfred DeMaria Jr. & Elena N Naumova, 2014. "Hospitalization Records as a Tool for Evaluating Performance of Food- and Water-Borne Disease Surveillance Systems: A Massachusetts Case Study," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(4), pages 1-8, April.
    2. Chui, K.K.H. & Jagai, J.S. & Griffiths, J.K. & Naumova, E.N., 2011. "Hospitalization of the elderly in the United States for nonspecific gastrointestinal diseases: A search for etiological clues," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 101(11), pages 2082-2086.
    3. Brodie, M. & Weltzien, E. & Altman, D. & Blendon, R.J. & Benson, J.M., 2006. "Experiences of Hurricane Katrina evacuees in Houston shelters: Implications for future planning," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 96(8), pages 1402-1408.
    4. Linda B. Bourque & Judith M. Siegel & Megumi Kano & Michele M. Wood, 2006. "Weathering the Storm: The Impact of Hurricanes on Physical and Mental Health," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 604(1), pages 129-151, March.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Samantha L. Waddell & Dushyantha T. Jayaweera & Mehdi Mirsaeidi & John C. Beier & Naresh Kumar, 2021. "Perspectives on the Health Effects of Hurricanes: A Review and Challenges," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-18, March.

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