A case-control study of hypertensive women in a post-disaster community: Wyoming Valley, Pennsylvania

Among 396 female flood victims participating in a five-year post-disaster survey, 31 cases were identified who developed hypertension during that time period. A case-control study of hypertension was carried out utilizing age and ponderal index as matching criteria. The purpose of the study was to assess risk factors for hypertension associated with the early recovery period. Pairwise matching yielded 29 case-control pairs for analysis. Such factors as property loss, financial difficulties, physical work, use of alcohol, and perceived distress--all associated with the recovery period--were significantly associated with hypertension. Two mental health dimensions--somatization and anxiety--and the respondent's perceived effect of the flood on health assessed at the time of the survey also demonstrated significant positive correlations with hypertension.