The Associations between Evacuation Status and Lifestyle-Related Diseases in Fukushima after the Great East Japan Earthquake: The Fukushima Health Management Survey

Zhichao Sun, Hironori Imano, Eri Eguchi, Fumikazu Hayashi, Tetsuya Ohira, Renzhe Cui, Seiji Yasumura, Akira Sakai, Michio Shimabukuro, Hitoshi Ohto, Kenji Kamiya and Hiroyasu Iso
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Zhichao Sun: Public Health, Department of Social Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
Hironori Imano: Public Health, Department of Social Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
Eri Eguchi: Department of Epidemiology, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan
Fumikazu Hayashi: Department of Epidemiology, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan
Tetsuya Ohira: Department of Epidemiology, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan
Renzhe Cui: Department of Internal Medicine, Okanami General Hospital, Iga 518-0842, Japan
Seiji Yasumura: Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan
Akira Sakai: Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan
Michio Shimabukuro: Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan
Hitoshi Ohto: Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan
Kenji Kamiya: Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan
Hiroyasu Iso: Public Health, Department of Social Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka 565-0871, Japan

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 9, 1-13

Abstract: Background: This study aimed to investigate the association between evacuation status and lifestyle-related disease risks among Fukushima residents following the Great East Japan earthquake. Methods: Fukushima health management survey respondents were classified into non-evacuees, returnees, evacuees in lifted areas, and evacuees in banned areas. During a seven-year follow-up, 22,234 men and 31,158 women were included. Those with a history of diabetes, hypertension, or dyslipidemia at baseline were excluded. The odds ratios of risk factors (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia were calculated using a logistic regression model. Spatial autocorrelation of the prevalence of these diseases in the Fukushima area in 2017, was calculated to detect the disease prevalence status. Results: The risks of diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia were higher in evacuees in banned areas than in non-evacuees; the multivariable ORs were 1.32 (95% CI: 1.19–1.46), 1.15 (1.06–1.25), and 1.20 (1.11–1.30) for diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia, respectively. Returnees and evacuees in lifted areas had no increased risk of diseases. The area analyzed had a non-uniform spatial distribution of diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia, with clusters around Fukushima and Koriyama. Conclusion: Our findings imply the need for continuous support for evacuees in banned areas.

Keywords: evacuation; Great East Japan earthquake; disaster; disease prevalence status; cardiovascular and metabolic diseases (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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