Preparing end-stage heart failure patients and care providers in the era of climate change-driven hurricanes

Ahmed Alnajar; O H Bud Frazier; Abdelmotagaly Elgalad; P Alex Smith; James M Shultz

doi:10.1111/jocs.15784

Preparing end-stage heart failure patients and care providers in the era of climate change-driven hurricanes

J Card Surg. 2021 Oct;36(10):3491-3493. doi: 10.1111/jocs.15784. Epub 2021 Jul 3.

Authors

Ahmed Alnajar^{1

2}, O H Bud Frazier³, Abdelmotagaly Elgalad³, P Alex Smith, James M Shultz²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Surgery, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA.
² Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA.
³ Center for Preclinical Surgical & Interventional Research, Section of Transplantation, Texas Heart Institute, Houston, Texas, USA.

PMID: 34216512
DOI: 10.1111/jocs.15784

Abstract

Patients with end-stage congestive heart failure are at elevated risk for harm when extreme storms threaten and strike their communities. Individuals with compromised heart function require customized hurricane protection and preparedness approaches. We provide mitigation strategies for providers and their teams, as well as the patients themselves to ensure their safety and uninterrupted access to healthcare resources and quality care during hurricane impact and in the aftermath.

Keywords: COVID-19; LVAD; hurricanes; transplant.

Publication types

Editorial

MeSH terms

Climate Change
Cyclonic Storms*
Heart Failure* / therapy
Humans