Asthma exacerbations after the East Japan Disaster

Area of Science:

• Disaster medicine
• Pulmonology
• Public health

Background:

• The 2011 East Japan earthquake and tsunami displaced many, leading to crowded evacuation shelters with limited medical supplies.
• Asthma exacerbation poses a significant health risk during crises, requiring effective monitoring tools in primary care settings.
• The optimal method for assessing asthma control in disaster-affected populations remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the practical effectiveness of the Asthma Control Test (ACT) as an assessment tool for asthma control in primary care clinics within evacuation shelters.
• To determine if ACT can identify asthma exacerbation in a disaster-affected population.

Main Methods:

• The study involved 17 asthma patients residing in evacuation shelters in the Tohoku district following the 2011 disaster.
• Patients completed the Asthma Control Test (ACT), a patient-reported questionnaire assessing asthma control.
• ACT scores were analyzed to determine changes in asthma control post-disaster.

Main Results:

• A significant decrease in total ACT scores was observed among asthma patients after the disaster.
• Specific ACT components showing significant declines included limitations on daily activities, shortness of breath, nocturnal symptoms, and patient perception of control.
• The ACT demonstrated its ability to detect asthma exacerbation without necessitating lung function testing.

Conclusions:

• The Asthma Control Test (ACT) is a practical and effective tool for assessing asthma control in primary care settings during health crises.
• ACT can identify asthma exacerbation in disaster survivors, aiding in health crisis management.
• This tool holds potential for managing health crises in future unavoidable disasters.