title: Blizzard morbidity and mortality: Rhode Island, 1978.
abstract: The total number of outpatient visits to 10 hospital emergency rooms declined 64 per cent and emergency admissions 35 per cent immediately after the February 1978 blizzard in Rhode Island; both quickly returned to normal levels. Three days after the storm, admissions for myocardial infarction increased markedly. Total mortality and ischemic heart disease deaths showed a considerable increase for the five-day period following the blizzard. The physical and psychological stress of the blizzard probably precipitated cardiac deaths in susceptible individuals.
mesh_terms: D004190:Disasters; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D009017:Morbidity; D009026:Mortality; D012237:Rhode Island; D012914:Snow; D014887:Weather