title: Health-related quality of life and mental health problems after a disaster: are chronically ill survivors more vulnerable to health problems?
abstract: Studies have shown that the chronically ill are at higher risk for reduced health-related quality of life (HRQL) and for mental health problems. A combination with traumatic events might increase this risk. This longitudinal study among 1216 survivors of a disaster examines whether chronically ill survivors had a different course of HRQL and mental health problems compared to survivors without chronic diseases. HRQL and mental health problems were measured 3 weeks, 18 months and 4 years post-disaster. Data on pre-disaster chronic diseases was obtained from the electronic medical records of general practitioners. Random coefficient analyses showed significant interaction effects for social functioning, bodily pain and emotional role limitations at T2 only. Chronically ill survivors did not consistently have a different course of general health, physical role limitations, and mental health problems. In conclusion, chronic diseases were not an important risk factor for impaired HRQL and mental health problems among survivors.
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands. bellis.van.den.berg@rivm.nl
authors.forename: Bellis
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: van den Berg
authors.forename: Peter G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: van der Velden
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Joris Yzermans
authors.forename: Rebecca K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Stellato
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Grievink
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004190:Disasters; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*