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Yamamura M, Sawano T, Ozaki A, Zhao T, Yamamoto C, Montesino S, Kawashima M, Uchi Y, Yoshimura H, Kitazawa K, Marui H, Tsubokura M. Case Report: Difficulties faced by a home oxygen therapy patient who died after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1394376. [PMID: 39081351 PMCID: PMC11286418 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1394376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Following the Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE) and the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident in 2011, mandatory evacuation orders were issued to residents living near the nuclear power plant in Fukushima prefecture, including some patients receiving home oxygen therapy. Although the vulnerability of patients with home oxygen therapy (one of the population groups most vulnerable to disasters) has been noted, there is little information on the health effects of evacuation in the event of a radiation disaster. A 90-year-old man diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease since the age of 70, and lived in a town located approximately 20 km south of the nuclear power plant, died 8 months after the disaster due to worsening health conditions. This case reveals the potential for both physical and psychological burdens experienced by vulnerable groups like patients undergoing home oxygen therapy during evacuations in times of disaster. Although it is only a case report and the information is limited, severe respiratory distress requiring home oxygen therapy may present a significant risk factor for disaster-related deaths, especially in cases where evacuations are prolonged, such as in nuclear disasters. Due to the challenge of obtaining prompt public support immediately after a disaster, home oxygen therapy patients may need to prioritize self-help and mutual assistance in their disaster preparedness efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Momoka Yamamura
- Department of Radiation Health Management, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Toyoaki Sawano
- Department of Radiation Health Management, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
- Department of Surgery, Jyoban Hospital of Tokiwa Foundation, Fukushima, Japan
- Research Center for Community Health, Minamisoma Municipal General Hospital, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Akihiko Ozaki
- Research Center for Community Health, Minamisoma Municipal General Hospital, Fukushima, Japan
- Breast and Thyroid Center, Jyoban Hospital of Tokiwa Foundation, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Tianchen Zhao
- Department of Radiation Health Management, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Chika Yamamoto
- Department of Radiation Health Management, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
| | | | | | - Yuna Uchi
- Department of Radiation Health Management, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Hiroki Yoshimura
- Department of Radiation Health Management, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
- School of Medicine, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Kemmei Kitazawa
- Department of Radiation Health Management, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Hidenori Marui
- Department of Radiation Health Management, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Masaharu Tsubokura
- Department of Radiation Health Management, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
- Research Center for Community Health, Minamisoma Municipal General Hospital, Fukushima, Japan
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Yamamura M, Saito Y, Nonaka S, Sawano T, Matsumoto C, Ozaki A, Yamamoto C, Zhao T, Saito H, Kosaka M, Abe T, Tsubokura M. The difficulty of nuclear emergency prevention measures during natural disasters: ongoing challenges in Japan. JOURNAL OF RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION : OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION 2024; 44:024001. [PMID: 38834049 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6498/ad53d7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
It is crucial to anticipate nuclear emergency scenarios and implement effective measures. Japan's climate and topography make it vulnerable to natural disasters; thus, it is necessary to address compounding and cascading disaster scenarios involving the simultaneous occurrence of natural and nuclear disasters. On 1 January 2024, an earthquake hit the Noto region of Ishikawa Prefecture, resulting in damage to the area around the Shika Nuclear Power Plant, located 90 km from the epicenter. This earthquake revealed that, in the event of a complex disaster, it is possible that residents living within 30 km of the Shika Nuclear Power Plant will be completely unprepared for a nuclear disaster. In the event of a complex disaster, it is crucial to implement appropriate countermeasures while balancing responses to both nuclear and natural disasters and optimizing radiation disaster prevention measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Momoka Yamamura
- Department of Radiation Health Management, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan
| | | | - Saori Nonaka
- Department of Radiation Health Management, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan
- Research Center for Community Health, Minamisoma Municipal General Hospital, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Toyoaki Sawano
- Research Center for Community Health, Minamisoma Municipal General Hospital, Fukushima, Japan
- Department of Surgery, Jyoban Hospital of Tokiwa Foundation, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Chihiro Matsumoto
- Department of Radiation Health Management, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Akihiko Ozaki
- Research Center for Community Health, Minamisoma Municipal General Hospital, Fukushima, Japan
- Breast and Thyroid Center, Jyoban Hospital of Tokiwa Foundation, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Chika Yamamoto
- Department of Radiation Health Management, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Tianchen Zhao
- Department of Radiation Health Management, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Saito
- Department of Radiation Health Management, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Makoto Kosaka
- Department of Radiation Health Management, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Toshiki Abe
- Department of Radiation Health Management, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Masaharu Tsubokura
- Department of Radiation Health Management, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan
- Research Center for Community Health, Minamisoma Municipal General Hospital, Fukushima, Japan
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Hamanishi S, Miki A, Sasaki S. Comparative evaluation of the sleep quality metrics between a cardboard bed and a camp cot: a randomized controlled crossover study. PeerJ 2024; 12:e17392. [PMID: 38803581 PMCID: PMC11129694 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Health-beneficial emergency bedding has become increasingly important for dealing with natural disasters such as the anticipated Nankai Trough earthquake in Japan. When the Great East Japan Earthquake occurred, cardboard beds were provided to evacuees. However, there were concerns about lower back pain and sleep disturbances, as cardboard beds offer insufficient pressure distribution. This study aimed to compare the effects of cardboard beds with those of foldable camp cots on sleep quality. Methods A randomized controlled crossover study involving 20 healthy participants aged 18-45 years was conducted between June 2022 and January 2023. Participants were asked to sleep for one night on a camp cot and for another night on a cardboard bed, with a minimum three-day washout period between the two nights. Body pressure distribution and sleep metrics obtained from polysomnography (PSG) and questionnaires were compared between the two-bed types (P < 0.05). Results The camp cot exhibited better body pressure distribution than a cardboard bed, leading to improved sleep satisfaction, bedding comfort, and reduced morning sleepiness. Nevertheless, polysomnography revealed no notable differences in sleep metrics or sleep architecture between the two types of beds. Conclusions Our findings indicate that cardboard beds have lower pressure dispersion capabilities than camp cots, leading to an increased number of position changes during sleep. Additionally, subjective sleep quality, such as alertness on waking, sleep comfort, and sleep satisfaction, was lower for cardboard beds, suggesting that camp cots might offer a more comfortable bedding option for evacuees. However, there were no discernible differences between the two-bed types in terms of objective sleep metrics derived from PSG. The potential for sleep disturbances caused by lower back pain from a hard mattress has been noted, and it is possible that a single night's experience in healthy individuals might not be enough for sleep issues to manifest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seiji Hamanishi
- Graduate School of Nursing/Nursing Faculty, Kansai University of Social Welfare, Ako, Hyogo, Japan
- Nursing Faculty, Kansai University of Social Welfare, Ako, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Airi Miki
- Nursing Faculty, Kansai University of Social Welfare, Ako, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Shinsuke Sasaki
- Graduate School of Health and Welfare Science/Faculty of Health and Welfare Science, Okayama Prefectural University, Soja, Okayama, Japan
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Yoshimura H, Sawano T, Murakami M, Uchi Y, Kawashima M, Kitazawa K, Nonaka S, Ito N, Saito H, Abe T, Moriyama N, Sakakibara M, Yagiuchi K, Otsuki M, Hori A, Ozaki A, Yamamoto C, Zhao T, Uchiyama T, Oikawa T, Niwa S, Tsubokura M. Categorization of disaster-related deaths in Minamisoma city after the Fukushima nuclear disaster using clustering analysis. Sci Rep 2024; 14:2946. [PMID: 38316846 PMCID: PMC10844307 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-53165-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
The medical situation during disasters often differs from that at usual times. Disasters can lead to significant mortality that can be difficult to monitor. The types of disaster-related deaths are largely unknown. In this study, we conducted a survey to categorize the disaster-related deaths caused by a radiation disaster. A total of 520 people living in Minamisoma City, Fukushima Prefecture, at the time of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident, who were certified to have died due to disaster-related causes were surveyed. We divided the participants into those who were at home at the time of the earthquake and those who were in hospitals or facilities when the disaster struck and conducted a hierarchical cluster analysis of the two groups. Disaster-related deaths could be divided into seven groups for those who were at home at the time of the disaster and five groups for those who were in hospitals or facilities at the time of the disaster. Each group showed different characteristics, such as "the group with disabilities," "the group receiving care," and "the group with depression," and it became evident that not only uniform post-disaster support, but support tailored to the characteristics of each group is necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroki Yoshimura
- Department of Radiation Health Management, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan
- School of Medicine, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Toyoaki Sawano
- Department of Radiation Health Management, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan
- Department of Surgery, Jyoban Hospital of Tokiwa Foundation, Iwaki, Japan
- Research Center for Community Health, Minamisoma Municipal General Hospital, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Michio Murakami
- Department of Health Risk Communication, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan
- Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
| | - Yuna Uchi
- Department of Radiation Health Management, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Moe Kawashima
- Department of Radiation Health Management, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Kemmei Kitazawa
- Department of Radiation Health Management, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Saori Nonaka
- Department of Radiation Health Management, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan
- Research Center for Community Health, Minamisoma Municipal General Hospital, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Naomi Ito
- Department of Radiation Health Management, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Saito
- Department of Radiation Health Management, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan
- Department of Internal Medicine, Soma Central Hospital, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Toshiki Abe
- Department of Radiation Health Management, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Nobuaki Moriyama
- Department of Public Health, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Mamoru Sakakibara
- Reinstatement Support Center for Nurses, Incorporated Foundation of Tokiwa-Kai, Iwaki, Japan
| | | | - Mako Otsuki
- Department of Nursing, Fukushima Medical University Hospital, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Arinobu Hori
- Department of Psychiatry, Hori Mental Clinic, Minamisoma, Japan
| | - Akihiko Ozaki
- Research Center for Community Health, Minamisoma Municipal General Hospital, Fukushima, Japan
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Jyoban Hospital of Tokiwa Foundation, Iwaki, Japan
| | - Chika Yamamoto
- Department of Radiation Health Management, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Tianchen Zhao
- Department of Radiation Health Management, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Taiga Uchiyama
- Department of Radiation Health Management, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Tomoyoshi Oikawa
- Department of Neurosurgery, Minamisoma Municipal General Hospital, Minamisoma, Japan
| | - Shinichi Niwa
- Department of Psychiatry, Aizu Medical Center, Fukushima Medical University, Aizuwakamatsu, Japan
| | - Masaharu Tsubokura
- Department of Radiation Health Management, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan.
- Research Center for Community Health, Minamisoma Municipal General Hospital, Fukushima, Japan.
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Kitazawa K, Sawano T, Uchi Y, Kawashima M, Yoshimura H, Murakami M, Nonaka S, Saito H, Sakakibara M, Yagiuchi K, Otsuki M, Ozaki A, Yamamoto C, Zhao T, Uchiyama T, Oikawa T, Niwa S, Tsubokura M. Disaster-related deaths with alcohol-related diseases after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident: case series. Front Public Health 2024; 11:1292776. [PMID: 38288429 PMCID: PMC10822899 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1292776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The health of patients with mental disorders, such as alcohol-related diseases, often deteriorates after disasters. However, the causes of death among those with alcohol-related diseases during and after radiation disasters remain unclear. Methods To minimize and prevent alcohol-related deaths in future radiation disasters, we analyzed and summarized six cases of alcohol-related deaths in Minamisoma City, a municipality near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Results Patients were generally treated for alcohol-related diseases. In one case, the patient was forced to evacuate because of hospital closure, and his condition worsened as he was repeatedly admitted and discharged from the hospital. In another case, the patient's depression worsened after he returned home because of increased medication and drinking for insomnia and loss of appetite. Discussion The overall findings revealed that, in many cases, evacuation caused diseases to deteriorate in the chronic phase, which eventually resulted in death sometime after the disaster. To mitigate loss of life, alcohol-related diseases must be addressed during the chronic phases of future large-scale disasters, including nuclear disasters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kemmei Kitazawa
- Department of Radiation Health Management, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Toyoaki Sawano
- Department of Radiation Health Management, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
- Department of Surgery, Jyoban Hospital of Tokiwa Foundation, Iwaki, Japan
| | - Yuna Uchi
- Department of Radiation Health Management, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Moe Kawashima
- Department of Radiation Health Management, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Hiroki Yoshimura
- Department of Radiation Health Management, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Michio Murakami
- Department of Health Risk Communication, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Saori Nonaka
- Department of Radiation Health Management, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Saito
- Department of Radiation Health Management, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
- Department of Internal Medicine, Soma Central Hospital, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Mamoru Sakakibara
- Reinstatement Support Center for Nurses, Incorporated Foundation of Tokiwa-kai, Iwaki, Japan
| | | | - Mako Otsuki
- Department of Nursing, Fukushima Medical University Hospital, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Akihiko Ozaki
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Jyoban Hospital of Tokiwa Foundation, Iwaki, Japan
- Department of Thyroid and Endocrinology, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Chika Yamamoto
- Department of Radiation Health Management, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Tianchen Zhao
- Department of Radiation Health Management, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Taiga Uchiyama
- Department of Radiation Health Management, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Tomoyoshi Oikawa
- Department of Neurosurgery, Minamisoma Municipal General Hospital, Minamisoma, Japan
| | - Shinichi Niwa
- Department of Psychiatry, Aizu Medical Center, Fukushima Medical University, Aizuwakamatsu, Japan
| | - Masaharu Tsubokura
- Department of Radiation Health Management, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
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