Analysis of nearly 1.6 million veterans showed preexisting community health inequities largely explained poststorm cardiovascular and respiratory outcomes.
To investigate the relationship between hurricane exposure and cardiovascular and respiratory events in veterans, focusing on preexisting health disparities.
Key Findings:
Apparent increases in health events post-hurricanes were largely explained by preexisting health disparities.
Neighborhood disadvantage was the strongest predictor of adverse outcomes, with higher cardiovascular risks in more disadvantaged areas.
Older age correlated with higher cardiovascular event hazards, while female veterans showed lower cardiovascular but higher respiratory event hazards.
Interpretation:
The findings suggest that underlying health disparities, rather than direct hurricane exposure, significantly influence poststorm health outcomes.
Limitations:
Analysis only included VHA-delivered care, potentially missing events treated elsewhere.
Possible exposure misclassification due to FEMA housing-damage thresholds.
Subgroup analyses were exploratory and unadjusted for multiple comparisons.
Conclusion:
The study advocates for a shift in disaster preparedness strategies to address social determinants of health and environmental hazards rather than reactive responses to individual storms.
