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Impact of Hurricane Matthew on a Cohort of Adolescents With Asthma in North Carolina

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 August 2023

Scott A. Davis Open the ORCID record for Scott A. Davis [Opens in a new window] ,
Delesha M. Carpenter ,
Ceila E. Loughlin ,
Nacire Garcia  and
Betsy Sleath
Scott A. Davis*
Affiliation:
Division of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
Delesha M. Carpenter
Affiliation:
Division of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
Ceila E. Loughlin
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
Nacire Garcia
Affiliation:
Division of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
Betsy Sleath
Affiliation:
Division of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
*
Corresponding author: Scott A. Davis; Email: sdavis81@email.unc.edu.
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Abstract

Objective:

The aim of this study was to look at a cohort of adolescents who were already enrolled in a randomized controlled trial to see (1) how demographics were associated with hurricane impact, and (2) how hurricane impact was associated with reported asthma quality of life.

Methods:

One hundred fifty-one adolescents ages 11-17 and their parents enrolled in a randomized controlled trial at 2 sites in southeastern North Carolina completed questions about asthma quality of life, demographics, and the impact of Hurricane Matthew.

Results:

The most common effects of Hurricane Matthew were that the family’s home was damaged or flooded (32.5%), the school was damaged or flooded (31.8%), and the home had mold or mildew as a result of flooding or damage (25.8%). Problems with access to care were more common for families whose adolescent was non-White (P = 0.04), on Medicaid (P = 0.05), or if the family spoke Spanish at home (P < 0.001). Being affected by the hurricane was negatively associated with asthma quality of life.

Conclusions:

Hurricane Matthew had significant impact on the health of adolescents with asthma in the affected region, especially in the most vulnerable populations. Providers should ensure that families of adolescents with asthma have a hurricane plan to mitigate impact on their children’s health.

Keywords

hurricanefloodingasthmaquality of lifeadolescent health
Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 17 , 2023 , e446
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health

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