Current Health Status of Persons Injured in the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attacks

Background/Objectives: The September 11th, 2001 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center (WTC) exposed hundreds of thousands of persons to potential injury resulting from evacuation from high rise buildings, falling debris, and dust/debris cloud from collapsing towers. We describe the current health status of persons injured on 9/11, and identify exposures related to 9/11 and social and psychological factors related to impairment at follow-up.

Methods: The WTC Health Registry (WTCHR) contains data on a longitudinal cohort with baseline enrollment of 71,437 individuals (September, 2003-November, 2004); 46,322 adults (68%) completed the first follow-up survey (November, 2006-December, 2007). We conducted descriptive and multivariable analyses to assess the current health status of persons injured on 9/11/01.

Results: Of the 71,437 individuals enrolled in the WTCHR, 9,177 (12.8%) responded that they were injured as a result of WTC attack on 9/11/01, including sprain/strain (57.5%), cuts/abrasions/puncture wounds (53.1%), fracture/dislocation (6.3%), and concussion (4.6%). The rescue/recovery/cleanup workers (15%), R/R/C who worked on the WTC pile on 9/11 (25%), and individuals exposed to the dust/debris cloud (19.3%) were most likely to report an injury. In the first follow-up, 66.6% (6,110) of the injured and 64.2% (39,940) of the uninjured participated. Among the injured, 37.2% screened positive for probable PTSD vs. 16.0% for the uninjured (p<0.001); disability and inability to work were more frequently reported among the injured (10.5% vs. 3.5%, p<0.001).

Conclusions/Implications: Persons injured on 9/11 continue to report high levels of psychological and physical impairment 5 to 6 years after the disaster. Continued surveillance is needed.