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Environmental illness prevalence: A population-based study in Nova Scotia.
Jeanette McGlone1, Paul J Rowan, Karina Davidson
1Department of Psychology, Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia, Canada.
British Journal of Health Psychology
|November 5, 2003
Summary
Environmental illness affects 2.6% of adults, leading to significantly higher healthcare costs. This study quantifies the prevalence and healthcare utilization for environmental illness, highlighting its substantial burden.
Area of Science:
- Environmental health
- Epidemiology
- Health psychology
Background:
- Environmental illness is associated with high disability and healthcare use.
- Prevalence estimates and healthcare system impact remain unclear.
- Research is needed to understand the burden of environmental illness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To estimate the point prevalence of environmental illness.
- To measure healthcare utilization among individuals with environmental illness.
- To assess the impact of environmental illness on healthcare costs.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the 1995 Nova Scotia Health Survey, a population-based survey.
- Assessed point prevalence via self-report of professional diagnosis.
- Compared medical care utilization using provincial insurance data for cases versus matched controls.
Main Results:
- The adjusted point prevalence of environmental illness was 2.6%.
- Individuals diagnosed with environmental illness incurred 5.5 times higher physician reimbursement costs compared to controls.
- This indicates a significant treatment burden associated with the condition.
Conclusions:
- Environmental illness diagnoses represent a considerable disability and treatment burden.
- Further research into case definition and phenomenology is warranted.
- Health psychologists can contribute to understanding and addressing environmental illness.