Chronic disease and related conditions at emergency treatment facilities in the New Orleans area after Hurricane Katrina.
BACKGROUND
Disaster preparations usually focus on preventing injury and infectious disease. However, people with chronic disease and related conditions (CDRCs), including obstetric/gynecological conditions, may be vulnerable to disruptions caused by disasters.


METHODS
We used surveillance data collected after Hurricane Katrina to characterize the burden of visits for CDRCs at emergency treatment facilities (eg, hospitals, disaster medical assistance teams, military aid stations). In 6 parishes in and around New Orleans, health care providers at 29 emergency treatment facilities completed a standardized questionnaire for injury and illness surveillance from September 8 through October 22, 2005.


RESULTS
Of 21,673 health care visits, 58.0% were for illness (24.3% CDRCs, 75.7% non-CDRCs), 29.1% for injury, 7.2% for medication refills, and 5.7% for routine or follow-up care. The proportion of visits for CDRCs increased with age. Among men presenting with CDRCs, the most common illnesses were cardiovascular disease (36.8%), chronic lower-respiratory disease (12.3%), and diabetes/glucose abnormalities (7.7%). Among women presenting with CDRCs, the most common were cardiovascular disease (29.2%), obstetric/gynecological conditions (18.2%), and chronic lower-respiratory disease (12.0%). Subsequent hospitalization occurred among 28.7% of people presenting with CDRCs versus 10.9% of those with non-CDRCs and 3.8% of those with injury.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data illustrate the importance of including CDRCs as a part of emergency response planning.
Sharma
Andrea J
AJ
Epidemic Intelligence Service, Office of Workforce and Career Development, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Mailstop K-26, 4770 Buford Hwy, Atlanta, GA 30341-3724, USA. ajsharma@cdc.gov
Weiss
Edward C
EC
Young
Stacy L
SL
Stephens
Kevin
K
Ratard
Raoult
R
Straif-Bourgeois
Susanne
S
Sokol
Theresa M
TM
Vranken
Peter
P
Rubin
Carol H
CH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004190:Disasters; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008145:Louisiana / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology