Persistence of multiple illnesses in World Trade Center rescue and recovery workers: A cohort study

Juan P. Wisnivesky, Susan L. Teitelbaum, Andrew C. Todd, Paolo Boffetta, Michael Crane, Laura Crowley, Rafael E. De La Hoz, Cornelia Dellenbaugh, Denise Harrison, Robin Herbert, Hyun Kim, Yunho Jeon, Julia Kaplan, Craig Katz, Stephen Levin, Ben Luft, Steven Markowitz, Jacqueline M. Moline, Fatih Ozbay, Robert H. PietrzakMoshe Shapiro, Vansh Sharma, Gwen Skloot, Steven Southwick, Lori A. Stevenson, Iris Udasin, Sylvan Wallenstein, Philip J. Landrigan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

240 Scopus citations

Abstract

More than 50 000 people participated in the rescue and recovery work that followed the Sept 11, 2001 (9/11) attacks on the World Trade Center (WTC). Multiple health problems in these workers were reported in the early years after the disaster. We report incidence and prevalence rates of physical and mental health disorders during the 9 years since the attacks, examine their associations with occupational exposures, and quantify physical and mental health comorbidities. In this longitudinal study of a large cohort of WTC rescue and recovery workers, we gathered data from 27 449 participants in the WTC Screening, Monitoring, and Treatment Program. The study population included police officers, firefighters, construction workers, and municipal workers. We used the Kaplan-Meier procedure to estimate cumulative and annual incidence of physical disorders (asthma, sinusitis, and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease), mental health disorders (depression, post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD], and panic disorder), and spirometric abnormalities. Incidence rates were assessed also by level of exposure (days worked at the WTC site and exposure to the dust cloud). 9-year cumulative incidence of asthma was 27·6 (number at risk: 7027), sinusitis 42·3 (5870), and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease 39·3 (5650). In police officers, cumulative incidence of depression was 7·0 (number at risk: 3648), PTSD 9·3 (3761), and panic disorder 8·4 (3780). In other rescue and recovery workers, cumulative incidence of depression was 27·5 (number at risk: 4200), PTSD 31·9 (4342), and panic disorder 21·2 (4953). 9-year cumulative incidence for spirometric abnormalities was 41·8 (number at risk: 5769); three-quarters of these abnormalities were low forced vital capacity. Incidence of most disorders was highest in workers with greatest WTC exposure. Extensive comorbidity was reported within and between physical and mental health disorders. 9 years after the 9/11 WTC attacks, rescue and recovery workers continue to have a substantial burden of physical and mental health problems. These findings emphasise the need for continued monitoring and treatment of the WTC rescue and recovery population. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)888-897
Number of pages10
JournalThe Lancet
Volume378
Issue number9794
DOIs
StatePublished - 2011

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We thank the staff of the World Trade Center (WTC) Worker and Volunteer Medical Screening, Medical Monitoring, and Treatment programmes; the labour, community, and volunteer organisation stake-holders; and the WTC rescue and recovery workers, who gave of themselves so readily in response to the WTC attacks and to whom the WTC programmes are dedicated. This work was supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (contract 200-2002-0038 and grant 5U1O 0H008232 ), the American Red Cross Liberty Fund, The September 11th Recovery Program, The Bear Stearns Charitable Foundation, The September 11th Fund, The Robin Hood Foundation Relief Fund, and many others. The contents of this report are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of Centers for Disease Control or the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

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