Floods raise cancer, diabetes hospitalisations, pointing to post-Alfred health risks

In the wake of Cyclone Alfred, a study has found diseases and health conditions drive far higher rates of hospitalisation for up to seven months after a disaster.

Monash University climate health scientist Yuming Guo.

An international study has shown people living in flood-prone regions spend longer in hospital, are more prone to serious medical issues and shoulder a disproportionate amount of the chronic disease burden.

A study by Monash University, published in Nature Water, found that for up to seven months after a disaster, hospitalisations for unrelated health conditions rose an average 26 per cent.

In the wake of major floods through Queensland and northern NSW – and with disasters becoming increasingly frequent through Australia – the study points to how disaster-affected infrastructure is also strained by demand for months after a crisis.

The study analysed the hospitalisation records of 300 million presenting patients across eight countries from 2010 to 2019 in 747 flood-prone communities.

The results indicated hospitalisations for cardiovascular diseases rose 35 per cent, diabetes 61 per cent, cancer 34 per cent and respiratory disease 30 per cent.

Mental disorders represented the least substantial post-disaster hospitalisation rise at 11 per cent.

The first comprehensive study of long-term health impacts on flood-affected populations, it was led by Monash University environmental health researcher Yuming Guo who argued new disaster mitigation measures were necessary in the wake of his findings. “We found if there is flooding, there will be a risk rising for all kinds of diseases,” he said.

“Without dividing into all these different (disease) types, it’s actually almost all the diseases which can be affected by flooding.

“It means the government should do something to mitigate flooding. The government should also take action to help the impact on the community and the population.

“NSW and Queensland have experienced flooding in the last few months and it was bigger than before in the impact on the population. If we don’t make some attempts to impact on flooding in future then (it will) be terrible.”

The study involved communities in Australia, Vietnam, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Thailand, New Zealand and Taiwan.

Floods create a perfect storm for disease spread and the flare-up of chronic diseases. They often contaminate water supplies, risking digestive and infectious diseases, while promoting growth of fungi, bacteria and viruses.

The impact of displacement and evacuation on hygiene, stress, mental health, medical access, quality of life and timeliness of complex treatments is also a major factor.

“Policymakers and health professionals should raise awareness of the increased hospitalisation demands from a broad range of diseases after floods to improve disaster response strategies and health system resilience to optimise the prognosis of the incidence or onset of diseases during and after floods to cope with the health challenges brought by climate change,” the paper reads.