Impacts of the 2019/20 bushfires and COVID-19 pandemic on the physical and mental health of older Australians: a cross-sectional survey

Abstract

Background In 2019/20 major bushfires devastated Australia’s East Coast. Shortly afterward the COVID-19 pandemic was declared. Older people are disproportionately affected by disasters and are at high risk from respiratory pandemics. However, little is known about how these events impact on older peoples’ health and well-being and engagement with services such as primary care. Objective To explore the health impacts of the 2019/20 bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic on older Australians' health and well-being. Methods One hundred and fifty-five people aged over 65 years living in South-eastern New South Wales, Australia participated in an online survey. The survey measured the impacts of the bushfires and COVID-19 on physical and mental health and the capacity of older people to manage these impacts. Results Most respondents felt that the bushfires caused them to feel anxious/worried (86.2%) and negatively affected their physical (59.9%) and mental (57.2%) health. While many participants had similar feelings about COVID-19, significantly fewer felt these physical and mental health impacts than from the bushfires. A significantly greater perceived level of impact was observed for females and those with health problems. More respondents described negative mental health than physical health effects. Those who felt more impacted by the events had lower levels of resilience, social connection and support, and self-rated health. Conclusion The health impacts identified in this study represent an opportunity for primary care to intervene to both ensure that people with support needs are identified and provided timely support and that older people are prepared for future disasters.

Impact of a general practice nurse intervention to improve blood pressure control: The ImPress study

“…The ImPress study Due to the impacts of disaster and COVID-19, 15,16 the sample size was smaller than the intended full trial.…”

Australian physiotherapists' knowledge and views on the relationship between climate change, health, and physiotherapy

“…Increased occurrence of extreme weather events caused by climate change results in poor health outcomes, especially in vulnerable populations (Foo, 2016; World Health Organization, 2021). In Australia, for example, frequent bushfires and floods adversely impact people's health, including exacerbated cardiorespiratory diseases, infectious diseases, and mental health issues (Black Dog Institute, 2021; Halcomb et al., 2022; McMichael et al., 2006).…”

Pandemic impacts and experiences after disaster in Australia: qualitative study of compound impacts following the Black Summer bushfires

“…15 Cross-sectional surveys also indicate that bushfire and pandemic impacts are both associated with reduced mental health 11 and well-being 13 (although links with pandemic stressors may be attenuated when controlling for factors such as financial difficulties), 12 as well as greater social isolation. 14 By contrast, relevant studies have found no evidence of interactions between pandemic and bushfire impacts, although complex relationships have been observed with adverse childhood experiences (suggesting compounding effects of disasters and earlier trauma histories). 11 Fewer studies still have used qualitative designs to generate deeper understandings of the impacts of bushfires and the pandemic, and these have focused narrowly on experiences of loneliness and social isolation in the context of pandemic restrictions 16 and experiences of persons with specific health conditions such as multiple sclerosis.…”

“… 15 Cross-sectional surveys also indicate that bushfire and pandemic impacts are both associated with reduced mental health 11 and well-being 13 (although links with pandemic stressors may be attenuated when controlling for factors such as financial difficulties), 12 as well as greater social isolation. 14 By contrast, relevant studies have found no evidence of interactions between pandemic and bushfire impacts, although complex relationships have been observed with adverse childhood experiences (suggesting compounding effects of disasters and earlier trauma histories). 11 …”

“…10 Notwithstanding the unique features of major bushfires and a public health emergency, few studies have yet considered specific impacts on mental health and well-being of the Black Summer bushfires and COVID-19 pandemic. Available studies have mainly comprised cross-sectional surveys of adolescents 11 and adults, 12 teachers 13 and older adults, 14 with one study using a mood-monitoring application that tracked changes over time. 15 The latter suggested that symptoms of depression increased during the bushfires and remained elevated subsequently during pandemic restrictions, whereas experiences of anxiety and reduced social connectedness were observed during the pandemic (relative to when bushfires were active).…”