Impact of Mid-Niigata Prefecture Earthquake on Cardiovascular Diseases

概要

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Acute physical and psychological stress caused by earthquake can provoke cardiovascular events. We retrospectively investigated the incidence of acute cardiovascular events from September 25, 2004, to November 19, 2004, in 8 hospitals that treated most patients with such disorders in the area affected by the mid-Niigata prefecture earthquake. The number of cardiovascular events markedly increased in the week following the earthquake, with a daily median (range) of 6 (0–21) compared with 2 (0–4) in the prior 4 weeks. The number of cases of sudden death increased in the week after the earthquake, with a daily median of 3 (0–6) compared with 1 (0–3) in the prior 4 weeks. Of the 14 cases of acute coronary syndrome presenting during the week after the earthquake, 4 of the 14 cases occurred on the day of the earthquake. Pulmonary embolism increased to 9 cases in the 4 weeks after the earthquake, compared to only 1 case reported in the 4 weeks before the earthquake. Takotsubo cardiomyopathy increased in the 4 weeks after the earthquake to 25 cases compared with only 1 case reported in the 4 weeks before the earthquake. Although 10 patients (40%) with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy developed life-threatening heart failure, all recovered within several weeks following the improvement of apical dysfunction.