title: YaAn earthquake increases blood pressure among hospitalized patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  YaAn, a city in Sichuan province, China, was struck by a major earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale on April 20, 2013. This study sought to investigate the impact of YaAn earthquake on the blood pressure (BP) among hospitalized patients in the department of cardiology.
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 52 hospitalized patients who were admitted to our hospital at least three days before the day of earthquake in 2013 (disaster group) as compared with 52 patients during April 20, 2014 (nondisaster group). BP was measured three times per day and the prescription of antihypertensive medicine was recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The earthquake induced a 3.3 mm Hg significant increase in the mean postdisaster systolic blood pressure (SBP) in the disaster group as compared with the nondisaster group. SBP at admission was positively associated with the elevated SBP in the logistic regression model (odds ratio (OR) = 1.09, 95% confidence interval (CI):1.016-1.168, p = 0.015), but not other potential influencing factors, including antihypertensive medicine, sex, age, and body weight, excluding β-blockers. Patients with β-blockers prescription at the time of earthquake showed a blunt response to earthquake-induced SBP elevation than those who were taking other antihypertensive drugs (OR = 0.128, 95% CI: 0.019-0.876, p = 0.036).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The YaAn earthquake induced significant increase in SBP even at a distance from the epicenter among hospitalized patients. The findings demonstrate that pure psychological components seem to be a cause of the pressor response and β-blockers might be better in controlling disaster-induced hypertension.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Cardiology, Daping Hospital , The Third Military Medical University , Chongqing , PR China.
authors.forename: Chuanwei
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: a Department of Cardiology, Daping Hospital , The Third Military Medical University , Chongqing , PR China.
authors.forename: Xiaoli
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: b Respiratory Department, Xinqiao Hospital , The Third Military Medical University , Chongqing , PR China.
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: c Department of Health Statistics , College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University , Chongqing , PR China.
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: a Department of Cardiology, Daping Hospital , The Third Military Medical University , Chongqing , PR China.
authors.forename: Hongyong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: a Department of Cardiology, Daping Hospital , The Third Military Medical University , Chongqing , PR China.
authors.forename: Chunyu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zeng
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination / Q000379:methods; D016507:Cardiology Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D055866:Earthquakes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents
keywords: Antihypertensive agents; earthquake; hypertension