What this means
To evaluate short-term effects of Hurricanes Matthew (2016) and Florence (2018) on hospitalization or death among older adults using electricity-dependent durable medical equipment (edDME) in North Carolina, and to assess how hurricane exposure definitions influence associations. We conducted controlled interrupted time series analyses using NC Medicare data (2015-2019).
A plain-English summary is on its way. Until then, this is the start of the authors' own summary.
- Who it was tested in
- Not stated
- Kind of research
- A study
The science
- Original title
- Assessing the Effects of Hurricane Hazards on Hospitalization or Death Among Older Adults Using Electricity-Dependent Medical Devices.
- Authors
- Jackson BE, Planey AM, Garcia HM et al.
- Journal
- Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
- Published
- Oct 22, 2026
- Study type
- Study
- PMID
- 42902980 ↗
Abstract
Background
To evaluate short-term effects of Hurricanes Matthew (2016) and Florence (2018) on hospitalization or death among older adults using electricity-dependent durable medical equipment (edDME) in North Carolina, and to assess how hurricane exposure definitions influence associations.
What they did
We conducted controlled interrupted time series analyses using NC Medicare data (2015-2019). Monthly cohorts of beneficiaries aged ≥ 65 years with recent edDME use were classified as hurricane-exposed or unexposed using FEMA county-level disaster declarations. Exploratory analyses applied North Carolina Flood Extent Archive (FLDEX) to define exposure by residential flooding thresholds. The primary outcome was 30-day all cause hospitalization or death. ARIMA models estimated immediate level changes and sustained trends, including race-stratified analysis.
What they found
Using FEMA definitions, we observed no significant immediate changes following either hurricane, but a sustained increase in hospitalization or death after Hurricane Matthew. FLDEX-based analyses showed stronger and more consistent exposure-outcome associations, particularly at higher flooding thresholds and among Black beneficiaries. Coarse FEMA disaster designations may obscure important dose-dependent and racially patterned health effects of hurricanes. Higher-resolution exposure metrics may improve disaster surveillance and targeting of preparedness resources for medically vulnerable populations.
The authors' abstract, grouped under plain headings from its own section labels.
Jackson BE, Planey AM, Garcia HM et al. Assessing the Effects of Hurricane Hazards on Hospitalization or Death Among Older Adults Using Electricity-Dependent Medical Devices. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. 2026. doi:10.1111/jgs.70757. PMID: 42902980. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42902980/
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