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Impact of the Great East Japan Earthquake on Acute Myocardial Infarction in Fukushima Prefecture

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 May 2014

Takayoshi Yamaki ,
Kazuhiko Nakazato ,
Mikihiro Kijima ,
Yukio Maruyama  and
Yasuchika Takeishi
Takayoshi Yamaki*
Affiliation:
Departments of Cardiology and Hematology, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
Kazuhiko Nakazato
Affiliation:
Departments of Cardiology and Hematology, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
Mikihiro Kijima
Affiliation:
Hoshi General Hospital, Koriyama, Japan
Yukio Maruyama
Affiliation:
Hoshi General Hospital, Koriyama, Japan
Yasuchika Takeishi
Affiliation:
Departments of Cardiology and Hematology, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to Takayoshi Yamaki, MD, PhD, Department of Cardiology and Hematology, Fukushima Medical University, 1 Hikarigaoka, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan (e-mail ta-yama@fmu.ac.jp).
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Abstract

Objective

The incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) reportedly increases following a huge disaster. On March 11, 2011, the Great East Japan Earthquake hit a large area of eastern Japan. In Fukushima prefecture, many people suffered from the consequences of the earthquake, the subsequent tsunami, and especially the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident. We assessed whether the incidence of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) increased after the earthquake.

Methods

We enrolled AMI patients admitted to 36 hospitals in Fukushima prefecture between March 11, 2009, and March 10, 2013 (n = 3068). We compared the incidence of AMI after the earthquake for more than 3 months and 1 year with that in the control years.

Results

The incidence of Fukushima's annual AMI patients (per 100 000 persons) in 2011 was similar to that of previous years (n = 38.9 [2011] vs 37.2 [2009] and 38.5 [2010], P = .581). However, a significantly higher incidence of AMI was found in the Iwaki district after the disaster that corresponded to the 1-year period of observation (n = 38.7 [2011] vs 27.3 [2009] and 32.8 [2010], P = .045).

Conclusion

The Great East Japan Earthquake affected the incidence of AMI only in limited areas of Fukushima prefecture. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2014;0:1–8)

Keywords

acute myocardial infarctionthe Great East Japan EarthquakeFukushima prefecture
Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 8 , Issue 3 , June 2014 , pp. 212 - 219
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2014 

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