Texas clinicians treated 14.7 percent more patients for bodily injuries and broken bones in the week after Hurricane Harvey than in the entire month before the storm, according to research from athenahealth.
Researchers examined data from 1,052 providers in the athenahealth network who treated patients in Harvey disaster zones between Sept. 5 and Sept. 8.
Analysis revealed an increase in bodily injuries across the board. Injuries to the hips, legs or feet were the most common in the week after the hurricane. Patients also had an increased amount of broken bones, with the arm or shoulder representing the most common area for such an injury.
Patients complaining of respiratory issues increased 10 percent in the first few days after Harvey hit Houston, compared to the previous month. Local providers also saw an 8 percent increase in births after Harvey, due to changes in barometric pressure.