Risk factors for psychological and physical health problems after a man-made disaster - Prospective study

Background: There are few prospective studies on risk factors for health problems after disasters in which actual pre-disaster health data are available. Aims: To examine whether survivors' personal characteristics, and pre-disaster psychological problems, and disaster-related variables, are related to their postdisaster health. Method: Two studies were combined: a longitudinal survey using the electronic medical records of survivors' general practitioners (GPs), from 1 year before to 1 year after the disaster, and a survey in which questionnaires were filled in by survivors, 3 weeks and 18 months after the disaster. Data from both surveys and the electronic medical records were available for 994 survivors. Results: After adjustment for demographic and disaster-related variables, pre-existing psychological problems were significantly associated with post-disaster self-reported health problems and post-disaster problems presented to the GP. This association was found for both psychological and physical post-disaster problems. Conclusions: In trying to prevent long-term health consequences after disaster, early attention to survivors with preexisting psychological problems, and to those survivors who are forced to relocate or are exposed to many stressors during the disaster, appears appropriate. Declaration of interest: None. Funding detailed in Acknowledgements.