TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2019//
TI  - Premature death associated with long-term evacuation among a vulnerable population after the Fukushima nuclear disaster: a case report
JO  - Medicine (Baltimore)
A1  - Sawano, Toyoaki
A1  - Nishikawa, Yoshitaka
A1  - Ozaki, Akihiko
A1  - Leppold, Claire
A1  - Takiguchi, Mai
A1  - Saito, Hiroaki
A1  - Shimada, Yuki
A1  - Morita, Tomohiro
A1  - Tsukada, Manabu
A1  - Ohira, Hiromichi
A1  - Tsubokura, Masaharu
SP  - e16162
EP  - e16162
VL  - 98
IS  - 27
N2  - RATIONALE: The health vulnerability of certain populations such as children, the elderly and individuals with illnesses or physical disability can become significant in disasters. After the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident, significant health impacts on vulnerable populations were observed during early or mid-term phase of the disaster, presumably associated with the evacuation. However, there is limited information available on the health impacts owing to long-term evacuation after disaster among them. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 56-year-old physically challenged male with arteriovenous malformation on his right lower limb, diagnosed when he was 2 years' old, lived near the FDNPP. He and his family were forced to evacuate immediately after the accident. DIAGNOSIS: Three months after evacuation following the FDNPP accident, he developed a refractory foot ulcer associated with atrial fibrillation and congestive cardiac failure because of deterioration of arteriovenous malformation, presumably led by repeated evacuations. INTERVENTION: Although anticoagulation therapy and diuretic therapy improved his cardiac failure in the initial admission, he decided to only be treated with supportive care after revelation that his arteriovenous malformation was no longer eligible for aggressive intervention. OUTCOME: Three years after the long-term evacuation in temporary houses, the patient died of bleeding and infection of the ulcer. LESSONS: This case suggests that long-term evacuation for individuals with physical disability may lead to significant health impacts, and even premature death, through the deterioration of daily life activities due to physical and psychological burdens. This case presents a need for further research on ways that disasters impact the health of individuals with physical disabilities, and greater disaster preparation for the needs of populations with physical disabilities.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0025-7974
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000016162
ID  - ref1
ER  -