title: A huge earthquake hardened arterial stiffness monitored with cardio-ankle vascular index.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The incidence of cardiovascular events increases after a large earthquake, but the mechanism is not fully understood. The cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) reflects the stiffness of the artery from the origin of the aorta to the ankles and is independent of blood pressure. To determine the effect of a major earthquake on CAVI in healthy volunteers and in patients with cardiovascular risks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our hospital is situated about 300 km from the epicenter of the earthquake that occurred in Japan in 2011. In study 1, healthy volunteers were included. In study 2, patients with cardiovascular factors were included. In study 1, the mean CAVI was 7.3±1.0 just after the earthquake. After 7-14 days, the mean CAVI had decreased to 6.8±1.1 (compared to firstt measurement, p<0.05). Furthermore, the CAVI value 30 days after the earthquake was 7.0±1.1. The blood pressure did not change during these 30 days. In study 2, the mean CAVI 12 and 6 months before the earthquake were 8.95±0.76 and 8.99±0.83, respectively. The CAVI was 9.34±1.0 just after the earthquake and had decreased to 8.83±0.76 6 months later (compared to after the earthquake, p< 0.05). The blood pressure increased slightly at the time of earthquake, but was not significantly different from before the earthquake.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CAVI increased in healthy people and also in patients with cardiovascular risks just after the earthquake, even far from the epicenter.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Toho University Sakura Medical Center, Japan. k432@sakura.med.toho-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: Mao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Kohji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shirai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000842:Ankle / Q000098:blood supply; D001011:Aorta / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D055866:Earthquakes; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D016909:Tibial Arteries / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D059289:Vascular Stiffness / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids