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Increased Incidence of Tachyarrhythmias and Heart Failure Hospitalization in Patients With Implanted Cardiac Devices After the Great East Japan Earthquake Disaster

Year: 2012

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: After the East Japan Earthquake disaster there may have been a deterioration of patients with cardiovascular diseases. METHODS AND RESULTS: We examined the data from 189 consecutive patients implanted with cardiovascular devices for the 6-month period before and after the Earthquake. In 170 patients with defibrillators, the number who experienced tachyarrhythmias increased significantly after the Earthquake (28 ± 5 vs. 34 ± 3 patients/month, P<0.05). In 74 patients with biventricular pacemakers, the number of heart failure hospitalizations significantly increased after the Earthquake (1.2 ± 1.0 vs. 2.7 ± 1.2 patients/month, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The East Japan Earthquake disaster unfavorably affected patients implanted with defibrillators or biventricular pacemakers.

Source: Circulation Journal

DOI: 10.1253/circj.cj-12-0261