1Department of Internal Medicine,The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center,Dallas,Texas.
2Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute and School of Public Health,Rutgers University,Piscataway,New Jersey.
Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2019 Jun;13(3):555-560. doi: 10.1017/dmp.2018.115. Epub 2018 Nov 12.
Following chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear disasters, medically unexplained symptoms have been observed among unexposed persons.
This study examined belief in exposure in relation to postdisaster symptoms in a volunteer sample of 137 congressional workers after the 2001 anthrax attacks on Capitol Hill.
Postdisaster symptoms, belief in exposure, and actual exposure status were obtained through structured diagnostic interviews and self-reported presence in offices officially designated as exposed through environmental sampling. Multivariate models were tested for associations of number of postdisaster symptoms with exposure and belief in exposure, controlling for sex and use of antibiotics.
The sample was divided into 3 main subgroups: exposed, 41%; unexposed but believed they were exposed, 17%; and unexposed and did not believe that they were exposed, 42%. Nearly two-thirds (64%) of the volunteers reported experiencing symptoms after the anthrax attacks. Belief in anthrax exposure was significantly associated with the number of ear/nose/throat, musculoskeletal, and all physical symptoms. No significant associations were found between anthrax exposure and the number of postdisaster symptoms.
Given the high incidence of these symptoms, these data suggest that even in the absence of physical injury or illness, there may be surges in health care utilization. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2019;13:555-560).
在化学、生物、放射性和核灾难之后，未暴露人群中出现了无法用医学解释的症状。
本研究调查了在 2001 年国会山炭疽袭击后，一个由 137 名国会工作人员组成的志愿者样本中，与接触相关的信念与灾难后症状之间的关系。
通过结构化诊断访谈和自我报告在通过环境采样正式指定为暴露的办公室中的存在，获得灾难后症状、接触和接触信念以及实际接触状况。控制性别和抗生素使用，多元模型检验接触和接触信念与症状数量的关联。
该样本分为 3 个主要亚组：暴露组，41%；未暴露但认为自己暴露，17%；未暴露且不认为自己暴露，42%。近三分之二（64%）的志愿者在炭疽袭击后报告出现症状。对炭疽接触的信念与耳部/鼻部/喉咙、肌肉骨骼和所有身体症状的数量显著相关。炭疽暴露与灾难后症状数量之间没有发现显著关联。
鉴于这些症状的高发生率，这些数据表明，即使没有身体伤害或疾病，也可能会出现医疗保健利用率的激增。（灾难医学与公共卫生准备。2019；13:555-560）。
