Tropical Cyclones on the Rise in Low- and Middle- Income Countries Yet Remain Least Studied

A new invited perspective from a researcher at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health illustrates the increases in adverse public health outcomes following tropical cyclones, especially in communities with existing health conditions. The paper, published in Environmental Health Perspectives, explains that the focus should be on low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), rather than the United States. Until now, a majority of research on outcomes from tropical cyclones have centered on high-income countries.

“In order to more fully understand the long-term consequences of tropical cyclones more high-quality public health research on tropical cyclones that focuses on LMICs is essential,” says Robbie M. Parks, PhD, incoming assistant professor of environmental health sciences at Columbia Mailman School and co-author of the article. “However, conducting this research calls for a multidisciplinary approach as well as greater cooperation between high-income countries and low- middle-income countries.”

­­­The public health impact of tropical cyclones reaches beyond injuries and cardiovascular diseases but extends to neuropsychiatric conditions, respiratory diseases, and infectious and parasitic diseases which are all evident following these weather situations. Parks and co-author Renzo R. Guinto of St. Luke’s Medical Centre College of Medicine, Philippines, further make the point that long-term mental health consequences are greatly misunderstood and need to be studied in greater detail.

Recovery is often inequitable after a tropical cyclone affects the federal aid and private insurance made available to Black and low-income populations. Even financial resources and the luxury of evacuation—due to a lack of warning systems—are not available to all, adds Parks.