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Impact of natural disasters on the functional and health status of patients with rheumatoid arthritis

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Modern Rheumatology

Abstract

To examine the effects of natural disasters on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients we conducted a questionnaire survey targeted to 1,477 members of a nationwide RA patient group in Japan who lived in the municipalities affected by natural disasters between 2004 and 2006. Functional statuses measured by the modified Health Assessment Questionnaire and self-rated health statuses before and after the events were retrospectively examined. The associations between the changes in functional and health status and socio-demographics, direct damage, and preparedness status were statistically analyzed. Of the 665 individuals who responded, the data on 192 women RA patients were analyzed. The values at 1 and 6 months post-event were the same, with 14% experiencing deteriorations of functional status, while 22% experienced a worsening of self-rated health status. Those in poorer functional status before the events were more likely to experience deteriorations of functional [odds ratio (OR) 4.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.5–13.6] and health (OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.2–6.7) status at both 1 month and 6 months (OR 3.9, 95% CI 1.3–12.0, and OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.2–6.7, respectively) after the events. Based on these results, we conclude that the functional and health status of women RA patients could worsen due to the consequences of a natural disaster, with a disproportionately large impact upon those with a poorer functional status.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the Japan Rheumatism Friendship Association and its members for conducting the survey. This study was supported by Grant-in-Aids for Scientific Research from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, “A Study on Development of QOL Instrument for People Who Need Help and Support When it Happens to Disaster, 2006–2008 (HM and HS)” and “Strategic Management and Communications of Health Risks, 2007–2009 (HS).” It was also partially supported by the Research Grant-in-Aids by the Alliance for Global Sustainability of the University of Tokyo, 2009–2010 (HS).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Hongo 7-3-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan

    Jun Tomio & Hajime Sato

  2. Department of Preventive Medicine, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Sugao 2-16-1, Miyamae-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, 216-8511, Japan

    Jun Tomio

  3. Department of Human Environment Design, Faculty of Human Life Design, Toyo University, Oka 48-1, Asaka, Saitama, 351-8510, Japan

    Hiroko Mizumura

Authors
  1. Jun Tomio
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  2. Hajime Sato
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  3. Hiroko Mizumura
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hajime Sato.

Appendix

Appendix

See Table 6.

Table 6 The components of the four domains of disaster preparedness behaviors
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Tomio, J., Sato, H. & Mizumura, H. Impact of natural disasters on the functional and health status of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Mod Rheumatol 21, 381–390 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10165-011-0414-y

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