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Identifying factors associated with mental health status following climate-related disasters: a nationwide longitudinal panel study in Korea
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Eunjin Oh, Jaelim Cho, Changsoo Kim, Hyungryul Lim, Kyoung-Nam Kim
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Epidemiol Health. 2025;47:e2025014. Published online March 27, 2025
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2025014
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 Abstract
Summary
 PDF Supplementary Material
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES
Despite the increasing frequency and intensity of climate-related disasters, identifying factors associated with mental health status remains challenging. This study aimed to determine the factors linked to symptoms of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following heavy rainfall and typhoons.
METHODS National data on climate-related disaster victims (n=825 for heavy rainfall and n=1,220 for typhoon) from a longitudinal panel in Korea (“Long-term Survey on the Change of Life of Disaster Victims”) and data from individuals unaffected by disasters (n=893) were used. Generalized linear mixed models were employed to evaluate the factors associated with mental health status following climate-related disasters.
RESULTS Greater disaster severity (e.g., experiencing casualties or asset loss) was associated with higher scores for depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7), and PTSD (Impact Event Scale-Revised). The association between casualty experience and anxiety score was more pronounced among individuals over 65 years (β [log-transformed score], 1.39; standard error [SE], 0.26; p<0.001), female respondents (β, 1.20; SE, 0.20; p<0.001), those with a low education level (β, 1.18; SE, 0.25; p<0.001), and those with a low income (β, 1.45; SE, 0.26; p<0.001) compared to their counterparts.
CONCLUSIONS These findings may help guide targeted interventions and shape public health policies and disaster management strategies that prioritize mental health support for the most at-risk populations, ultimately increasing community resilience to climate-related challenges.
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Summary
Korean summary
본 연구는 기후 관련 재난 후 우울증, 불안, PTSD와 관련된 요인을 파악하였다. 재난의 심각도가 클수록 정신 건강 악화는 더 심각하였으며 특히 노인, 여성, 낮은 교육 수준과 소득을 가진 취약한 그룹이 더 큰 위험에 처해 있었다. 이 결과는 향후 재난 대응에서 이러한 인구집단을 지원하기 위한 맞춤형 정신 건강 개입과 정책의 필요성을 시사한다.
Key Message
We identified factors associated with depression, anxiety, and PTSD following climate-related disasters, highlighting that greater disaster severity correlates with worse mental health outcomes. Vulnerable groups, such as older adults, women, those with lower education and income, are at higher risk. The findings suggest the need for targeted mental health interventions and policies to support these populations in future disaster responses.
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Association between humidifier disinfectant use duration and lung cancer development in Korea
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Sungchan Kang, Jeong-In Hwang, Su Hwan Kim, Hyungryul Lim, Dong-wook Lee, Woojoo Lee, Jong Hun Kim, Sol Yu, Jungyun Lim, Younghee Kim, Kyoung-Nam Kim
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Epidemiol Health. 2025;47:e2025023. Published online May 2, 2025
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2025023
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Abstract
Summary
PDFSupplementary Material
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES
This study was conducted to assess the association between the duration of humidifier disinfectant use and lung cancer development.
METHODS We analyzed data from 3,605 applicants registered for compensation from the Korean government due to health conditions related to humidifier disinfectant exposure. Among these individuals, 121 were diagnosed with lung cancer at least 4 years after their initial exposure (through December 2021). Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for lung cancer incidence were estimated according to the duration of disinfectant use using Cox proportional hazards models.
RESULTS Compared with <5 months of use, the HRs for lung cancer were 1.81 (95% CI, 0.41 to 7.97) for 5-14 months, 2.45 (95% CI, 0.58 to 10.41) for 15-29 months, and 4.61 (95% CI, 1.12 to 18.91) for ≥30 months. Using never smokers with <15 months of use as the reference category, the HRs were 2.97 (95% CI, 1.34 to 6.56) for never smokers with ≥15 months of use, 2.73 (95% CI, 0.94 to 7.95) for current or former smokers with <15 months of use, and 4.74 (95% CI, 1.94 to 11.61) for current or former smokers with ≥15 months of use.
CONCLUSIONS Our study provides some of the first robust epidemiological evidence that prolonged humidifier disinfectant use contributes to lung cancer development. Future studies—particularly those including unexposed populations—are needed to confirm these findings.
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Summary
Korean summary
* 장기간의 가습기 살균제 사용과 폐암 발생의 위험 간에는 정량적 연관성을 발견할 수 있었습니다.
* 가습기살균제를 30개월 이상 사용했다고 응답한 사람들은, 가습기살균제를 5개월 미만 사용했다고 응답한 사람들과 비교하여 폐암 발생 위험이 4배 높았습니다.
Key Message
* There is a quantitative association between prolonged humidifier disinfectants use and the risk of lung cancer incidence.
* Individuals reported they used humidifier disinfectants for more than 30 months had more than four times higher risk of lung cancer than those of individuals who reported they used humidifier disinfectants for less than five months.
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Effect modification of consecutive high concentration days on the association between fine particulate matter and mortality: a multi-city study in Korea
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Hyungryul Lim, Sanghyuk Bae, Jonghyuk Choi, Kyung-Hwa Choi, Hyun-Joo Bae, Soontae Kim, Mina Ha, Ho-Jang Kwon
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Epidemiol Health. 2022;44:e2022052. Published online June 9, 2022
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2022052
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Abstract
Summary
PDFSupplementary Material
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES
Although there is substantial evidence for the short-term effect of fine particulate matter (PM<sub>2.5</sub>) on daily mortality, few epidemiological studies have explored the effect of prolonged continuous exposure to high concentrations of PM<sub>2.5</sub>. This study investigated how the magnitude of the mortality effect of PM<sub>2.5</sub> exposure is modified by persistent exposure to high PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentrations.
METHODS We analyzed data on the daily mortality count, simulated daily PM<sub>2.5</sub> level, mean daily temperature, and relative humidity level from 7 metropolitan cities from 2006 to 2019. Generalized additive models (GAMs) with quasi-Poisson distribution and random-effects meta-analyses were used to pool city-specific effects. To investigate the effect modification of continuous exposure to prolonged high concentrations, we applied categorical consecutive-day variables to the GAMs as effect modification terms for PM<sub>2.5</sub>.
RESULTS The mortality risk increased by 0.33% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.16 to 0.50), 0.47% (95% CI, -0.09 to 1.04), and 0.26% (95% CI, -0.08 to 0.60) for all-cause, respiratory, and cardiovascular diseases, respectively, with a 10 μg/m3 increase in PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentration. The risk of all-cause mortality per 10 μg/m3 increase in PM<sub>2.5</sub> on the first and fourth consecutive days significantly increased by 0.63% (95% CI, 0.20 to 1.06) and 0.36% (95% CI, 0.01 to 0.70), respectively.
CONCLUSIONS We found increased risks of all-cause, respiratory, and cardiovascular mortality related to daily PM<sub>2.5</sub> exposure on the day when exposure to high PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentrations began and when exposure persisted for more than 4 days with concentrations of ≥35 μg/m3. Persistently high PM<sub>2.5</sub> exposure had a stronger effect on seniors.
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Summary
Korean summary
한국의 7개 대도시를 배경으로 수행한 본 시계열 연구를 통하여 2006년부터 2019년까지의 기간 동안에 초미세먼지의 단기 노출이 일별 사망률을 증가시키며, 교호작용모형을 통해 일평균 35 μg/m3 이상의 고농도 지속기간이 처음 시작되는 날과 넷째 지속일에 이러한 사망효과가 커짐을 보고하였다. 이러한 고농도 지속기간의 교호작용은 65세 이상 연령군에서 더욱 두드러졌다.
Key Message
With our Korean multi-city study design from 2006 to 2019, the short-term effects of PM2.5 on mortality were greater when the high PM2.5 concentration duration began during the day and lasted for approximately 4 days, and the elderly may be more affected by persistently high PM2.5.
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Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by  - Estimating Health and Economic Benefits from PM2.5 Reduction in Fishery-Based Communities: A Sector-Specific Approach to Sustainable Air Quality Management in the Philippines
James Roy Lesidan, Nadine Grace Caido, Oliver Semblante, Floro Junior Roque, Jejomar Bulan, Jumar Cadondon, Maria Cecilia Galvez, Edgar Vallar
Sustainability.2025; 17(3): 1316. CrossRef
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