Six months after the devastating Maui wildfires, many survivors are suffering from depression, poor health and economic hardship, according to researchers at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
Initial findings from the Maui Wildfire Exposure Cohort Study, released Thursday, show that 3 in 4 people, or 74%, may have a respiratory illness, with half suffering from mild to severe lung obstruction. Approximately one-third of the patients showed symptoms and were found to have lung insufficiency. Lung function.
More than half, 55%, showed signs of depression, which increased with age, especially among survivors in their 50s.
Those numbers are sobering, said lead researchers Ruben Juarez and Arika Mauna Kea, both professors at the University of Mānoa.
“These acute symptoms are to be expected in areas affected by wildfires, particularly mental health issues,” said Mauna Kea, a professor at the John A. Burns School of Medicine. “Unfortunately, it wasn't surprising, but it's very humbling to know that it's prevalent.”
Rates of respiratory problems and depression were higher than expected in the initial cohort of 224 participants, indicating signs of potential long-term complications in the future, researchers said. said.
Juarez also said he was surprised by the number of participants who said they did not receive any help or support for their health concerns. We received a lot of questions about where to get treatment, especially for lung and mental health.
About a quarter of the cohort, 24%, said they did not have consistent access to medical care. An additional 13% said they did not have health insurance, a significant increase from the 1.7% reported among Maui residents before the fires.
That's according to researchers who launched a study in December to examine the short- and long-term health effects of the Aug. 8 wildfires, the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than 100 years. , this is a wake-up call.
It comprehensively considers the emotional, mental, and physical trauma of wildfires, as well as socio-economic factors and social impacts.
Researchers found that the majority (65%) of this age group are still living in temporary housing, 58% lost their jobs due to the bushfires, and 24% are still unemployed and looking for work. discovered. The majority (74%) reported a decrease in household income.
Juarez said the lack of access to care shows that many problems still need to be resolved and “we're just not doing a good job.”
“We believe that early intervention is necessary to immediately begin addressing respiratory illnesses, mental health concerns, and access to health care services for the uninsured,” he said.
Mauna Kea said he hopes the preliminary findings will “help encourage government agencies to work with communities to address these emerging issues.”
“These are just warning signs that can lead to long-term complications that our communities may suffer from, beyond the immediate tragedy of wildfires. “We want to mobilize support to address these critical needs,” he said.
Addressing these needs now will likely reduce long-term chronic disease and mortality rates in the future, he said.
Mauna Kea said high rates of respiratory distress are a cause for concern, and the study investigated potential links to environmental hazards caused by fires, including the health effects of traces of heavy metals and other toxic substances. It is said that it will be done.
“It's not just the initial shock and exposure from breathing air from wildfires six months ago, but also what's left in the land, water and air that may be contributing to these problems.” he said. People return to the burn zone and are exposed repeatedly. ”
This study will help answer these questions, he said. We also look at the role community-based groups play in providing needed services and what helped survivors bounce back in the face of tragedy.
The initial findings came from 224 adult participants enrolled during the first two weeks of the study, but researchers hope to expand the cohort to 1,000 people. The goal is to monitor their health over a period of 10 years, perhaps longer.
This study includes a questionnaire. Medical examinations related to pulmonary, cardiovascular and mental health. Along with a blood sample.
Mr. Juarez is an HMSA endowed professor at the UH Institute for Economic Research, and Mr. Mauna Kea is a professor and director of the Epigenomics Research Program at JABSOM.
The next recruitment events are scheduled to be held today and Saturday at the Royal Lahaina Resort in Lahaina and on February 17th at Kula Lodge. To register, visit MauiWES.info.
This research is sponsored by the Hawaii Community Foundation's Maui Strong Fund. California State University is seeking additional funding to expand research to include children and first responders.
Maui wildfire exposure survey, initial findings
Self-reported health outcomes
>> 49% say their health is worse than last year (before the bushfires)
>> 24% report lack of regular medical care
>> 13% reported not having health insurance (compared to 1.7% in previous survey)
physical health
>> 74% may experience poor respiratory health
>> 49% show signs of mild to severe lung obstruction
>> 33% have decreased lung function related to impaired tissue oxygenation
>> 21.5% have high blood pressure (stage 1 and 2 hypertension)
>> 8-18% may have decreased kidney function
mental health
>> 55% show symptoms of depression (was 33%)
>> The incidence of depression increases with age, reaching 75% among people aged 50 to 59.
>> 34.6% reported low self-esteem
>> 1.3% reported recently considering suicide
Source: UHERO, JABSOM
Interested in registering?
recruitment event
>> At Royal Lahaina today and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
>> February 17th from 10am to 4pm at Kula Lodge
>> You must be 18 years or older to participate. You must live or work near a wildfire-affected area on Maui. Expect to be in Hawaii for at least 5 years. Participation fee is $100, including medical examination.
>> Visit MauiWES.info.
