Abstract
Background: Flooding can have extensive effects on the health and wellbeing of affected communities. The impact of flooding on psychological morbidity has been established; however, the wider impacts of flooding exposure, including on health-related quality of life (HRQoL), have not been described. Methods: Using data from the English National Study of Flooding and Health cohort, HRQoL 2 and 3 years post-flooding was assessed with the EuroQol Group EQ-5D-5L tool. Associations between exposure groups (flooding and disruption from flooding) and HRQoL were assessed, using ordinal and linear regression, adjusting for a priori confounders. Results: For both 2 and 3 years post-flooding, the median HRQoL scores were lower in the flooded and disrupted groups, compared with unaffected respondents. A higher proportion of flooded and disrupted respondents reported HRQoL problems in most dimensions of the EQ-5D-5L, compared with unaffected respondents. In year 2, independent associations between exposure to flooding and experiencing anxiety/depression [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 7.7; 95% CI 4.6-13.5], problems with usual activities (aOR 5.3; 95% CI 2.5-11.9) and pain/discomfort (aOR 2.4; 95% CI 1.5-3.9) were identified. These problems persisted 3 years post-flooding; associations between exposure to flooding and experiencing anxiety/depression (aOR 4.3; 95% CI 2.5-7.7), problems with usual activities (aOR 2.9; 95% CI 1.5-6.1) and pain/discomfort (aOR 2.5; 95% CI 1.5-4.2) were identified. Conclusions: Exposure to flooding and disruption from flooding significantly reduces HRQoL. These findings extend our knowledge of the impacts of flooding on health, with implications for multi-agency emergency response and recovery plans.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 942-948 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | European Journal of Public Health |
| Volume | 30 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Oct 2020 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:This work was supported by the National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Units (NIHR HPRU) in Evaluation of Interventions at the University of Bristol, in partnership with Public Health England (PHE), the NIHR HPRU in Emergency Preparedness and Response at King's College London in partnership with PHE and the NIHR HPRU in Environmental Change and Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in partnership with PHE. The views expressed are those of the authors and not those of the NHS, the NIHR, the Department of Health and Social Care or PHE.
Publisher Copyright:
© Crown copyright 2020.
