title: The immediate physical and mental health crisis in residents proximal to the evacuation zone after Japan's nuclear disaster: an observational pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The 2011 earthquake and Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan have had devastating effects on residents near the damaged nuclear power plant, but quantifying its effect on their health has been difficult.
  
  
  METHODS
  Among the 564 residents of Iitate Village and Soma City who enrolled in this study, we evaluated the changes of clinical parameters in 155 participants who underwent annual health evaluations in the previous year and after the earthquake. Psychological distress was also measured by using patient health questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants (median age, 64 years) showed significant post-disaster increases in body weight, body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, blood glucose levels, and triglyceride levels. PHQ-9 scores of 10 or greater were found in 12% of the subjects, indicating that a substantial number had major depression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings in this study showed substantial deterioration in clinical parameters related to lifestyle diseases and the presence of general psychological distress among residents living near the damaged nuclear power plant after the Fukushima Daiichi disaster. In addition to controlling the levels of radiation exposure, aggressive management of immediate physical and mental health crisis for residents may be necessary in future nuclear accidents.
authors: Division of Social Communication System for Advanced Clinical Research, the Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors: Masaharu
authors: M
authors: Tsubokura
authors: Department of Metabolic Disease, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors: Kazuo
authors: K
authors: Hara
authors: Division of Social Communication System for Advanced Clinical Research, the Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors: Tomoko
authors: T
authors: Matsumura
authors: Global Health Policy, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors: Amina
authors: A
authors: Sugimoto
authors: Global Health Policy, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors: Shuhei
authors: S
authors: Nomura
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Ichiyokai Hospital, Fukushima; Japan.
authors: Masamitsu
authors: M
authors: Hinata
authors: Global Health Policy, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors: Kenji
authors: K
authors: Shibuya
authors: Division of Social Communication System for Advanced Clinical Research, the Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors: Masahiro
authors: M
authors: Kami
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology; D004190:Disasters; D055866:Earthquakes; D005260:Female; D062406:Fukushima Nuclear Accident; D015438:Health Behavior; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology; D057192:Tsunamis