Survivors of the 9/11 terrorist attacks are more likely to suffer from heart and lung disease

Rescue workers and survivors of the 9/11 terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center in the US in 2001 seem to be at risk of heart and lung disease years later, according to a new study. shows.

The researchers looked at more than 8,700 people in the Registry WTC survey and a survey register that monitored the physical and mental health of more than 71,000 people exposed to air and debris after the attack. September 11, 2001.

The study by Dr. Robert Brackbill, of the New York City Department of Health said: "Our findings indicate that if exposed strongly to a day - the first day of a disaster, people there have. there is a high risk of chronic disease after that '.

The people in this study were the most exposed on 9/11. The group includes 7,503 regional workers, 249 rescue workers, 131 residents and 818 people passing by, witnessing the terrorist incident.

40% of this group had strong contact with the dust cloud. 10% were injured, 2% suffered from 2 types of injuries and 1% suffered 3 or more injuries.

The researchers identified 92 cases of heart disease, 308 asthma cases and 297 cases of lung disease but not lung cancer, or other lung conditions that were not related to the tumor. They also found 327 new cases of diabetes, but they said factors in the September 11 terrorist incident have nothing to do with diabetes cases.

The number of injuries such as fractures, head injuries, and sprains in 9/11 is associated with a higher risk of chest pain or heart attack later. This risk increases with all types of additional injuries.

Exposure to dust, post-traumatic stress disorder, a lifeguard in a terrorist attack and currently smoking will have a higher rate of lung disease but not lung cancer. In addition, research shows that exposure to dust may increase the risk of asthma.

This finding has just been published in Injury Epidemiology.

Brackbill said: "Public health providers and services will continue to monitor the health of those present in the vicinity of the World Trade Center in the near future . "