A longitudinal comparative study of the physical and mental health problems of affected residents of the firework disaster Enschede, The Netherlands

Grievink, L.; van der Velden, P.G.; Stellato, R.K.; Dusseldorp, A.; Gersons, B.P.R.; Kleber, R.J.; Lebret, E.

doi:10.1016/j.puhe.2006.09.025

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Volume 121, Issue 5 , Pages 367-374, May 2007

A longitudinal comparative study of the physical and mental health problems of affected residents of the firework disaster Enschede, The Netherlands

L. Grievink
- Centre for Environmental Health Research, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), P.O. Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +31302744533; fax: +31302744451.
P.G. van der Velden
- Institute for Psychotrauma, Zaltbommel, The Netherlands
R.K. Stellato
- Centre for Environmental Health Research, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), P.O. Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands
A. Dusseldorp
- Centre for Inspectorate Research, Emergency Response and Drinkwater, RIVM, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
B.P.R. Gersons
- Department of Psychiatry, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
R.J. Kleber
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
E. Lebret
- Centre for Environmental Health Research, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), P.O. Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands

Received 7 March 2005; received in revised form 22 August 2006; accepted 28 September 2006.

Summary

Objectives

After the firework disaster in Enschede, The Netherlands, on 13 May 2000, a longitudinal health study was carried out. Study questions were: (1) did the health status change over this period; and (2) how is the health status 18 months after the disaster compared with controls?

Study design

A longitudinal comparative study with two surveys at 3 weeks and 18 months after the disaster.

Methods

A control group for the affected residents was included in the second survey. Respondents filled in a set of validated questionnaires measuring their physical and mental health problems.

Results

The prevalence of physical and emotional role limitations, severe sleeping problems, feelings of depression and anxiety, as well as intrusion and avoidance decreased from 3 weeks to 18 months after the disaster for the affected residents. Independent of background characteristics and other life events, residents had 1.5 to three times more health problems than the control group; for example, physical role limitations (odds ratio [OR]=1.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2–2.0) and anxiety (OR=3.1, 95% CI 2.4–4.2).

Conclusions

Although health problems decreased compared with 3 weeks after the disaster, 18 months after the disaster, the affected residents had more health problems than the people from the control group.

Keywords: Disaster, Health status, Residents, Longitudinal, Comparison group