Clinical Features of Patients with Acute Aortic Dissection After an Earthquake ～Experience from The Kumamoto Earthquake 2016～

Abstract

Abstract Backgrounds While there is a concern about the increase in the occurrence of acute aortic dissection caused by the worsening of hypertension, mental stress, etc., there is a lack of data regarding the influence of disasters on this event. The aim of this study was to address this issue in the acute-subacute phase after the Kumamoto Earthquake occurred on April 14 2016. Methods We retrospectively investigated the impacts of the Kumamoto Earthquake on various cardiovascular diseases, including acute aortic dissection, utilizing the medical records of patients in 16 hospitals in Kumamoto Prefecture during the period from April 14 to June 30 (78 days) in 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017. Results The occurrence of heart failure and venous thromboembolism increased significantly in the acute-subacute phase after the earthquake. When comparing the earthquake year (2016) to the non-earthquake years (2014, 2015 and 2017), the difference in the occurrences and mortalities of acute aortic dissections were not significant. When other characteristics of the patients were compared between the earthquake year and the non-earthquake years, there were no differences. Conclusions It might be possible that the Kumamoto Earthquake did not affect the incidence of acute aortic dissection or deaths from acute aortic dissection, possibly because the climate was mild and the preventive efforts based on previous experience were successful.