Abstract
Background: We investigated early post 9/11 factors that could predict rhinosinusitis healthcare utilization costs up to 11 years later in 8,079 World Trade Center-exposed rescue/recovery workers. Methods: We used bivariate and multivariate analytic techniques to investigate utilization outcomes; we also used a pyramid framework to describe rhinosinusitis healthcare groups at early (by 9/11/2005) and late (by 9/11/2012) time points. Results: Multivariate models showed that pre-9/11/2005 chronic rhinosinusitis diagnoses and nasal symptoms predicted final year healthcare utilization outcomes more than a decade after WTC exposure. The relative proportion of workers on each pyramid level changed significantly during the study period. Conclusions: Diagnoses of chronic rhinosinusitis within 4 years of a major inhalation event only partially explain future healthcare utilization. Exposure intensity, early symptoms and other factors must also be considered when anticipating future healthcare needs. Am. J. Ind. Med. 57:857-865, 2014.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 857-865 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | American Journal of Industrial Medicine |
Volume | 57 |
Issue number | 8 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Aug 2014 |
Keywords
- Chronic rhinosinusitis
- Firefighters
- Sinus symptoms
- Treatment outcomes
- World trade center
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health