Physical performance deterioration of temporary housing residents after the Great East Japan Earthquake

Takeaki Ishii; Sae Ochi; Masaharu Tsubokura; Shigeaki Kato; Takahiro Tetsuda; Junpei Kato; Yoshitaka Nishikawa; Tomohiro Morita; Masahiro Kami; Yukihide Iwamoto; Hidekiyo Tachiya

doi:10.1016/j.pmedr.2015.10.009

Physical performance deterioration of temporary housing residents after the Great East Japan Earthquake

Prev Med Rep. 2015 Oct 30:2:916-9. doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2015.10.009. eCollection 2015.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Soma Central Hospital, Soma, Fukushima, Japan; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Fukuoka, Japan.
² Department of Internal Medicine, Soma Central Hospital, Soma, Fukushima, Japan.
³ Department of Radiation Protection, Soma Central Hospital, Soma, Fukushima, Japan; Division of Social Communication System for Advanced Clinical Research, the Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
⁴ Department of Radiation Protection, Soma Central Hospital, Soma, Fukushima, Japan.
⁵ Division of Rehabilitation, Fukuoka Houeikai Hospital, Fukuoka, Fukuoka, Japan.
⁶ Division of Social Communication System for Advanced Clinical Research, the Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
⁷ Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Fukuoka, Japan.
⁸ City Office of Soma, Soma, Fukushima, Japan.

Abstract

Disaster has a negative impact on health conditions, especially on those of temporary housing residents. Health status has a close relationship with physical activity and performance. However, few reports have assessed physical performance among residents living in temporary housing. In this study, we compared physical capabilities between the elderly who evacuated to temporary housing and those who stayed in their own homes after the Great East Japan Earthquake. Subjects were recruited from those over 65 years of age who participated in the medical check-ups for temporary housing residents (TH group) or check-ups for residents of downtown areas (control group) in Soma City, Fukushima, in 2012. The subjects underwent grip strength, one-leg standing (OLS), and timed up and go tests (TUG). In total, 1890 participants were recruited. The TH group showed significantly stronger grip strength than that of the control group. On the other hand, the TH group showed weaker standing stability, according to decreased OLS and increased TUG scores. We revealed that standing stability was impaired among elderly temporary housing residents 1.5 years after the disaster. Disaster responders should take into account the health risks associated with living in temporary housing.

Keywords: Disaster; Great East Japan Earthquake; Physical performance; Screening; Temporary housing.