Ayman R Fath1, Amro Aglan2, Jeri Platt3, Jordan R Yaron4, Kyle S Varkoly5, Roxana N Beladi5, Diane Gorgas6, Jean Tom Jean7,8, Pierre Dasni7, Abdullah S Eldaly9, Michael Juby10, Alexandra R Lucas4,11. 1. Internal Medicine Department, Creighton University, Phoenix, AZ, United States. 2. Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States. 3. Glen Echo Presbyterian Church, Columbus, OH, United States. 4. Center for Personalized Diagnostics, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States. 5. Kansas City University, Joplin, Kansas City, MO, United States. 6. Department of Emergency Medicine and Office of Global Health, Ohio State University's Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, United States. 7. Jerusalem Baptist Church, Fort-Liberté, Haiti. 8. Santiago Medical School, Santiago, Dominican Republic. 9. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Department, Tanta University Hospitals, Tanta, Egypt. 10. Midwestern University Medical School, Phoenix, AZ, United States. 11. Internal Medicine Department, Creighton University Arizona Health Education Alliance, Phoenix, AZ, United States.
Abstract
Objective: We review prior studies on the incidence of hypertension (HTN) after earthquakes and present a retrospective analysis of HTN after the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. Methods: Prior reports on HTN incidence were reviewed and a retrospective chart review for diagnosis of HTN in 4,308 patient charts was performed over a 7 year period (five clinics). A retrospective cohort study (RCS) was then performed on 11 patients with linear follow-up. Results: The Literature review revealed a significant increase in acute and subacute HTN following earthquakes. However, the chronic effects of earthquakes varied. Our chart review uncovered no significant difference in diagnosed HTN in a Fort-Liberté clinic 128 kilometers (km) distant and 4 weeks post-event. A secondary linear RCS for 11 individuals, prior to and after the earthquake, also did not detect a significant change in HTN prevalence. Conclusion: Prior studies demonstrate acute and subacute, increases in HTN after earthquakes, but late changes have varied. Retrospective studies in the Fort-Liberté clinic, 128 km distant and 4 weeks post-event, revealed no significant change in HTN, confirming prior findings that changes in HTN after earthquakes are early and local events. Further work examining HTN after earthquakes is needed to improve early health care after natural disasters.
Objective: We review prior studies on the incidence of hypertension (HTN) after earthquakes and present a retrospective analysis of HTN after the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. Methods: Prior reports on HTN incidence were reviewed and a retrospective chart review for diagnosis of HTN in 4,308 patient charts was performed over a 7 year period (five clinics). A retrospective cohort study (RCS) was then performed on 11 patients with linear follow-up. Results: The Literature review revealed a significant increase in acute and subacute HTN following earthquakes. However, the chronic effects of earthquakes varied. Our chart review uncovered no significant difference in diagnosed HTN in a Fort-Liberté clinic 128 kilometers (km) distant and 4 weeks post-event. A secondary linear RCS for 11 individuals, prior to and after the earthquake, also did not detect a significant change in HTN prevalence. Conclusion: Prior studies demonstrate acute and subacute, increases in HTN after earthquakes, but late changes have varied. Retrospective studies in the Fort-Liberté clinic, 128 km distant and 4 weeks post-event, revealed no significant change in HTN, confirming prior findings that changes in HTN after earthquakes are early and local events. Further work examining HTN after earthquakes is needed to improve early health care after natural disasters.
Authors: Miranda Metz; Jean Lookens Pierre; Lily Du Yan; Vanessa Rouzier; Stephano St-Preux; Serfine Exantus; Fabyola Preval; Nicholas Roberts; Olga Tymejczyk; Rodolphe Malebranche; Marie Marcelle Deschamps; Jean W Pape; Margaret L McNairy Journal: J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich) Date: 2022-02-24 Impact factor: 2.885