Abiodun O Oluyomi1,2, Kristen Panthagani3,4,5, Jesus Sotelo6, Xiangjun Gu6, Georgina Armstrong6, Dan Na Luo5, Kristi L Hoffman7, Diana Rohlman8, Lane Tidwell9, Winifred J Hamilton10, Elaine Symanski6,5, Kimberly Anderson9, Joseph F Petrosino7, Cheryl Lyn Walker3,5,11, Melissa Bondy12. 1. Department of Medicine, Section of Epidemiology and Population Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Jewish Building, Room 607D, (MS BCM307), Houston, TX, USA. oluyomi@bcm.edu. 2. Department of Family and Community Medicine, Environmental Health Service, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA. oluyomi@bcm.edu. 3. Genetics and Genomics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA. 4. Medical Scientist Training Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA. 5. Center for Precision Environmental Health, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA. 6. Department of Medicine, Section of Epidemiology and Population Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Jewish Building, Room 607D, (MS BCM307), Houston, TX, USA. 7. Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Alkek Center for Metagenomics and Microbiome Research, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA. 8. Environmental and Occupational Health, College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA. 9. Food Safety and Environmental Stewardship Program, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA. 10. Department of Family and Community Medicine, Environmental Health Service, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA. 11. Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA. 12. Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: In August 2017, Hurricane Harvey caused unprecedented flooding across the greater Houston area. Given the potential for widespread flood-related exposures, including mold and sewage, and the emotional and mental toll caused by the flooding, we sought to evaluate the short- and long-term impact of flood-related exposures on the health of Houstonians. Our objectives were to assess the association of flood-related exposures with allergic symptoms and stress among Houston-area residents at two time points: within approximately 30 days (T1) and 12 months (T2) after Hurricane Harvey's landfall. METHODS: The Houston Hurricane Harvey Health (Houston-3H) Study enrolled a total of 347 unique participants from four sites across Harris County at two times: within approximately 1-month of Harvey (T1, n = 206) and approximately 12-months after Harvey (T2, n = 266), including 125 individuals who participated at both time points. Using a self-administered questionnaire, participants reported details on demographics, flood-related exposures, and health outcomes, including allergic symptoms and stress. RESULTS: The majority of participants reported hurricane-related flooding in their homes at T1 (79.1%) and T2 (87.2%) and experienced at least one allergic symptom after the hurricane (79.4% at T1 and 68.4% at T2). In general, flood-exposed individuals were at increased risk of upper respiratory tract allergic symptoms, reported at both the T1 and T2 time points, with exposures to dirty water and mold associated with increased risk of multiple allergic symptoms. The mean stress score of study participants at T1 was 8.0 ± 2.1 and at T2, 5.1 ± 3.2, on a 0-10 scale. Participants who experienced specific flood-related exposures reported higher stress scores when compared with their counterparts, especially 1 year after Harvey. Also, a supplementary paired-samples analysis showed that reports of wheezing, shortness of breath, and skin rash did not change between T1 and T2, though other conditions were less commonly reported at T2. CONCLUSION: These initial Houston-3H findings demonstrate that flooding experiences that occurred as a consequence of Hurricane Harvey had lasting impacts on the health of Houstonians up to 1 year after the hurricane.
BACKGROUND: In August 2017, Hurricane Harvey caused unprecedented flooding across the greater Houston area. Given the potential for widespread flood-related exposures, including mold and sewage, and the emotional and mental toll caused by the flooding, we sought to evaluate the short- and long-term impact of flood-related exposures on the health of Houstonians. Our objectives were to assess the association of flood-related exposures with allergic symptoms and stress among Houston-area residents at two time points: within approximately 30 days (T1) and 12 months (T2) after Hurricane Harvey's landfall. METHODS: The Houston Hurricane Harvey Health (Houston-3H) Study enrolled a total of 347 unique participants from four sites across Harris County at two times: within approximately 1-month of Harvey (T1, n = 206) and approximately 12-months after Harvey (T2, n = 266), including 125 individuals who participated at both time points. Using a self-administered questionnaire, participants reported details on demographics, flood-related exposures, and health outcomes, including allergic symptoms and stress. RESULTS: The majority of participants reported hurricane-related flooding in their homes at T1 (79.1%) and T2 (87.2%) and experienced at least one allergic symptom after the hurricane (79.4% at T1 and 68.4% at T2). In general, flood-exposed individuals were at increased risk of upper respiratory tract allergic symptoms, reported at both the T1 and T2 time points, with exposures to dirty water and mold associated with increased risk of multiple allergic symptoms. The mean stress score of study participants at T1 was 8.0 ± 2.1 and at T2, 5.1 ± 3.2, on a 0-10 scale. Participants who experienced specific flood-related exposures reported higher stress scores when compared with their counterparts, especially 1 year after Harvey. Also, a supplementary paired-samples analysis showed that reports of wheezing, shortness of breath, and skin rash did not change between T1 and T2, though other conditions were less commonly reported at T2. CONCLUSION: These initial Houston-3H findings demonstrate that flooding experiences that occurred as a consequence of Hurricane Harvey had lasting impacts on the health of Houstonians up to 1 year after the hurricane.
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