title: Association between relocation and changes in cardiometabolic risk factors: a longitudinal study in tsunami survivors of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake.
abstract: The aim of this study is to determine changes in atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk factors with and without serious disaster-related mental and socioeconomic problems represented by relocation (REL).
  
  
  
  A longitudinal survey.
  
  
  
  Multiphasic health check-ups for the general population affected by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami.
  
  
  
  A total 6528 disaster survivors in heavily tsunami-damaged municipalities were recruited. Two sequential surveys were conducted and the data were analysed.
  
  
  
  Multiphasic health check-ups including investigation of lifestyle and psychological and socioeconomic measures were performed in two sequential phases (8 and 18 months) after the disaster for tsunami survivors with REL (n=3160) and without REL (n=3368). Longitudinal changes in cardiometabolic risk factors between the two phases were compared in the REL and non-REL groups.
  
  
  
  In sex/age-adjusted analysis, we found increases in body weight and waist circumference between the two phases that were significantly greater in the REL group than in the non-REL group (body weight:+0.31 (0.23∼0.39) versus -0.24 (-0.32∼-0.16) kg, p<0.001; waist circumference:+0.58 (0.48∼0.68) versus+0.05 (-0.05∼0.15) cm, p<0.001)). A decrease in serum HDLC levels was found and again was significantly greater in the REL group than in the non-REL group (-0.65 (-0.96∼-0.34) versus -0.09 (-0.39∼0.21) mg/dL, p=0.009). In addition, deterioration in physical activity, mental health and socioeconomic status was more prevalent in the REL group than in the non-REL group (all p<0.001).
  
  
  
  This study suggests that relocation after the devastating tsunami was related to weight gain and decreasing HDLC among survivors, and this change was associated with prolonged psychological distress and socioeconomic problems after the disaster.
authors.affiliation: Department of International Health, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Japan Department of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, Iwate Medical University, School of Medicine, Shiwa-gun, Iwate, Japan.
authors.forename: Shuko
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-7384-1113
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardioangiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Iwate Medical University, School of Medicine, Morioka, Iwate, Japan.
authors.forename: Motoyuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, Iwate Medical University, School of Medicine, Shiwa-gun, Iwate, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yonekura
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, Iwate Medical University, School of Medicine, Shiwa-gun, Iwate, Japan.
authors.forename: Kozo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tanno
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, Iwate Medical University, School of Medicine, Shiwa-gun, Iwate, Japan.
authors.forename: Kiyomi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sakata
authors.affiliation: Iwate Medical University, Morioka, Iwate, Japan.
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Iwate Medical University, School of Medicine, Morioka, Iwate, Japan.
authors.forename: Seiichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D064891:Disaster Victims / Q000523:psychology; D055866:Earthquakes; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008019:Life Style; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012923:Social Class; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology; D057192:Tsunamis; D055105:Waist Circumference; D015430:Weight Gain
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL
keywords: EPIDEMIOLOGY; PREVENTIVE MEDICINE; PUBLIC HEALTH