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Associations between flood risk and US Census tract-level health outcomes
Alvin Sheng1, Brian J Reich1, Kyle P Messier2,3
1Department of Statistics, College of Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, United States.
American Journal of Epidemiology
|June 6, 2024
Summary
Climate change-induced flooding is linked to increased risks of coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, asthma, and poor mental health in the US. Social vulnerability significantly influences these flood-health associations.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Epidemiology
- Climate Change Research
- Public Health
Background:
- Human-induced climate change exacerbates global flooding events.
- Understanding the health impacts of climate-related hazards like flooding is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between flood risk and specific health outcomes in the US.
- To investigate the role of social vulnerability as a moderator in flood-health relationships.
Main Methods:
- Aggregated flood risk data by census tract and derived 5 flood risk factors using principal component analysis.
- Utilized Bayesian spatial conditional autoregressive models to quantify relationships.
- Analyzed health outcome data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Main Results:
- Identified significant associations between flood risk factors and coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, asthma, and poor mental health.
- Demonstrated that social vulnerability moderates the relationship between flood risk and health outcomes.
- Provided the first US-wide estimates of flood risk effects on specific health conditions.
Conclusions:
- Flood risk is associated with adverse health outcomes, with social vulnerability playing a key role.
- The methodology can be applied to study other climate-related health impacts.
- Highlights the need for integrated approaches to climate adaptation and public health.
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