Medium- and long-term health effects of earthquakes in high-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Gallardo, Alba Ripoll; Pacelli, Barbara; Alesina, Marta; Serrone, Dario; Iacutone, Giovanni; Faggiano, Fabrizio; Corte, Francesco Della; Allara, Elias

doi:10.1093/ije/dyy130

Cited by 30 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 69 publications

(42 reference statements)

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“…The spatial extent of the immediate impact is usually directly related to the physical characteristics of the hazard, but the longer-term effects can encompass larger regions, depending on the functional relevance of the affected areas. For example, earthquakes may cause instantaneous damage and casualties at the sites where they occur, but their adverse consequences for human health, the environment, cultural heritage and economic activity may affect regions and last for years [6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Observed and Potential Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Environment

Cheval

Adamescu

Georgiadis³

et al. 2020

IJERPH

269

189

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Various environmental factors influence the outbreak and spread of epidemic or even pandemic events which, in turn, may cause feedbacks on the environment. The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic on 13 March 2020 and its rapid onset, spatial extent and complex consequences make it a once-in-a-century global disaster. Most countries responded by social distancing measures and severely diminished economic and other activities. Consequently, by the end of April 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to numerous environmental impacts, both positive such as enhanced air and water quality in urban areas, and negative, such as shoreline pollution due to the disposal of sanitary consumables. This study presents an early overview of the observed and potential impacts of the COVID-19 on the environment. We argue that the effects of COVID-19 are determined mainly by anthropogenic factors which are becoming obvious as human activity diminishes across the planet, and the impacts on cities and public health will be continued in the coming years.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Observed and Potential Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Environment

Cheval

Adamescu

Georgiadis³

et al. 2020

IJERPH

269

189

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“…On 6 April 2009, the city of L’Aquila, located in central Italy, was hit by a strong earthquake that caused more than 300 deaths, mainly as the consequence of the collapse of several buildings. The effects of the earthquake on public health started to be studied both in the early phases and in terms of medium-long-term effects [1].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hospitalization Rates for Respiratory Diseases After L’Aquila Earthquake

D’Aloisio

Vittorini

Giuliani

et al. 2019

IJERPH

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The study aims to investigate the impact of the earthquake on public health, in terms of hospitalizations for respiratory diseases in the Abruzzo region, focusing on the area damaged by the earthquake “Crater”. We collected data of hospitalizations of residents in Abruzzo between 2009 and 2015. Hospital Discharge Records (HDRs) with a primary diagnosis of respiratory disease were included and divided into pneumonia, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), and respiratory insufficiency. Absolute frequencies and standardized hospitalization rates were calculated to perform both a short-term and a medium-long term analysis. A linear regression was performed using standardized hospitalization rates and the time. A total of 108.669 respiratory-related records were collected and the most frequent subgroup was respiratory insufficiency. Standardized Hospitalization Rates (SHRs) for respiratory diseases resulted higher in the non-Crater than Crater area, but the short-term analysis showed a significant increase in hospitalizations for pneumonia and respiratory insufficiency in the Crater area. The medium-long term analysis reported a significant difference on the slope decrease of hospitalizations for acute and chronic respiratory diseases in the Crater versus the non-Crater area. The earthquake may have played a triggering role in the increased detection of respiratory diseases. A temporal relationship between the quake and an increase in admissions was found although it is not yet possible to detect a direct cause-effect relationship.

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“…With regard to earthquakes in high-income countries, a recent review and meta-analysis of the international literature pointed at, for instance, increased mortality rates from heart attacks and stroke, and increased diabetes in people exposed to earthquakes compared with unexposed people. 6 This review also found an increase in gastric ulcers and antidepressant and antipsychotic medication use, as well as infectious diseases. 6 An important difference is that the population in Groningen was not exposed to a heavy earthquake (or other immediate disaster like a flood, hurricane, explosion or severe fire).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

“… 6 This review also found an increase in gastric ulcers and antidepressant and antipsychotic medication use, as well as infectious diseases. 6 An important difference is that the population in Groningen was not exposed to a heavy earthquake (or other immediate disaster like a flood, hurricane, explosion or severe fire). Thus far, fortunately, no people were killed by collapsing buildings or damage to infrastructure.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

Immediate and long-term health impact of exposure to gas-mining induced earthquakes and related environmental stressors

Dückers

Baliatsas

Spreeuwenberg

et al. 2021

European Journal of Public Health

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Background Little is known about the public health impact of chronic exposure to physical and social stressors in the human environment. Objective of this study was to investigate the immediate and long-term health effects of living in an environment with gas-mining induced earthquakes and related stressors in the Netherlands. Methods Data on psychological, somatic and social problems recorded routinely in electronic health records by general practitioners during a 6-year period (2010–2015) were combined with socioeconomic status and seismicity data. To assess immediate health effects of exposure to ML≥1.5 earthquakes, relative risk ratios were calculated for patients in the week of an earthquake and the week afterwards, and compared to the week before the earthquake. To analyse long-term health effects, relative risks of different groups, adjusted for age, sex and socioeconomic status, were computed per year and compared. Results Apart from an increase in suicidality, few immediate health changes were found in an earthquake week or week afterwards. Generally, the prevalence of health problems was higher in the mining province in the first years, but dropped to levels equal to or even below the control group in subsequent years, with lower relative risks observed in more frequently exposed patients. Conclusions From a public health perspective, the findings are fascinating. Contrary to our expectation, health problems presented in general practice in the earthquake province decreased during the study period. More frequently exposed populations reported fewer health issues to general practitioners, which might point at health adaptation to chronic exposure to stressors.

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Medium- and long-term health effects of earthquakes in high-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Cited by 30 publications

References 69 publications

Observed and Potential Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Environment

Observed and Potential Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Environment

Hospitalization Rates for Respiratory Diseases After L’Aquila Earthquake

Immediate and long-term health impact of exposure to gas-mining induced earthquakes and related environmental stressors

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