Co-occurring Lower Respiratory Symptoms and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder 5 to 6 Years After the World Trade Center Terrorist Attack

Overview

Journal Am J Public Health

Specialty Public Health

Date 2012 Aug 18

PMID 22897552

Citations 23

Authors

Hemanth P Nair

Christine C Ekenga

James E Cone

Robert M Brackbill

Mark R Farfel

Steven D Stellman

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objectives: We have described the epidemiology of co-occurring lower respiratory symptoms (LRS) and probable posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) 5 to 6 years after exposure to the 9/11 disaster.

Methods: We analyzed residents, office workers, and passersby (n = 16,363) in the World Trade Center Health Registry. Using multivariable logistic regression, we examined patterns of reported respiratory symptoms, treatment sought for symptoms, diagnosed respiratory conditions, mental health comorbidities, quality of life, and unmet health care needs in relation to comorbidity.

Results: Among individuals with either LRS or PTSD, 24.6% had both conditions. The odds of comorbidity was significantly higher among those with more severe 9/11 exposures. Independent of 9/11 exposures, participants with LRS had 4 times the odds of those without it of meeting criteria for PTSD, and those with PTSD had 4 times the odds of those without it of meeting criteria for LRS. Participants with comorbidity had worse quality of life and more unmet mental health care needs than did all other outcome groups.

Conclusions: Respiratory and mental illness are closely linked in individuals exposed to 9/11 and should be considered jointly in public health outreach and treatment programs.

Citing Articles

Cross-sectional association between posttraumatic stress and cognition is moderated by pulmonary functioning in world trade center responders.

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Long-Term Lower Respiratory Symptoms among World Trade Center Health Registry Enrollees Following Hurricane Sandy.

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World Trade Center Health Program: First Decade of Research.

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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder among Survivors of the September 11, 2001 World Trade Center Attacks: A Review of the Literature.

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