title: Increased prevalence of atrial fibrillation after the Great East Japan Earthquake: Results from the Fukushima Health Management Survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous studies have shown that control of cardiovascular risk factors deteriorates among residents after a natural disaster. This study assessed the hypothesis that the prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) increased among residents in the evacuation zone of Fukushima prefecture after the Great East Japan Earthquake.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This longitudinal study examined subjects aged 40-90 years using data collected from 26,163 participants (11,628 men and 14,535 women) sourced from general health checkups conducted in twelve communities, including the evacuation zone specified by the government, between 2008 and 2010. The study obtained 12-lead ECG tracings and conducted follow-up examinations from June 2011 to the end of March 2013. A total of 12,410 participants (5704 men and 6706 women, follow-up proportion: 47%) received follow-up examinations after the earthquake, with an average follow-up of 1.4 years. The prevalence of AF increased among participants after the earthquake (before: 1.9% vs. after: 2.4%, P<.001). During the follow-up period, 79 incidences of AF occurred among participants. Excess ethanol intake (≥44 g/day) and obesity showed associations with an increased risk of AF after the earthquake, with multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) of 3.07 (1.55-6.08) and 1.87 (1.19-2.94), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of AF increased among residents in the evacuation zone of Fukushima prefecture after the Great East Japan Earthquake, with excess alcohol intake and obesity associated with an increased risk of AF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Arrhythmia and Cardiac Pacing, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan; Department of Cardiology and Hematology, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan; Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan. Electronic address: shitoshi@fmu.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan; Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan.
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ohira
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology and Hematology, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan; Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasuchika
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takeishi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan; Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan.
authors.forename: Mitsuaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hosoya
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan; Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan.
authors.forename: Seiji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yasumura
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Hypertension, Diabetology, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan; Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Satoh
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan; Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan.
authors.forename: Yukihiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kawasaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Rheumatology, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan; Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan.
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Life Sciences, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan; Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan.
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Health Management, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan; Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan.
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ohtsuru
authors.affiliation: Department of Planning and Management, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, Chiba, Japan; Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan.
authors.forename: Gen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kobashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Radiation Effects Research Foundation, Hiroshima, Japan; Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan.
authors.forename: Kotaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ozasa
authors.affiliation: Japan and Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan; Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan.
authors.forename: Shunichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Radiation Biology and Medicine, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan; Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan.
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kamiya
authors.affiliation: Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan.
authors.forename: Masafumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004190:Disasters; D055866:Earthquakes; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence
keywords: Alcohol; Atrial fibrillation; Earthquake; Obesity