Objective: To investigate the effects of major earthquakes on patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD).

Background: On April 14 and 16, 2016, two major earthquakes (“The 2016 Kumamoto Earthquakes”, registering a moment magnitude of 6.2, 7.1, respectively) occurred in Kumamoto, Japan. There is limited information concerning the effects of major earthquakes on patients with PD.

Methods: The study subjects were PD outpatients of hospitals located in areas heavily damaged by the earthquakes. Between August and November 2016, we distributed an anonymous questionnaire survey to PD patients at 9 medical institutions in the disaster areas. We investigated the effects one month after the earthquakes.

Results: We collected questionnaires from 335 patients with PD (male, 146, female 185, unknown 4; mean age, 72.6 years old; mean disease duration, 7.4 years). Regarding the patients’ physical condition, we found 98 patients (29.3%) worsened after the earthquakes, 5 (1.5%) improved and 228 (68.1%) showed no change. The primary physical conditions which worsened were, bradykinesia (56.1%), walking (51.0%), freezing of gait (FOG) (40.8%), extension of off-time (38.8%), constipation (38.8%), body posture (35.7%), tremors (34.7%), among others. The primary physical conditions which improved were, the prolongation of on-time, FOG, tremors, among others. Regarding the patients’ mental condition, 118 patients (35.2%) worsened, 8 (2.4%) improved and 194 (57.9%) showed no change. The primary mental conditions which worsened were, 1) posttraumatic stress disorder-related: the fear of an aftershock (77.1%), flashbacks of the earthquakes (33.7%), 2) depression-related: anxiety (49.2%), insomnia (47.5%), melancholy feelings (45.8%), fatigue (38.1%), a decrease in concentration (31.4%), and 3) worries-related: uneasiness for the future (32.2%), among others. The primary mental conditions which improved were melancholy feelings, anxiety, among others.

Conclusions: The effects of major earthquakes on patients with PD were identified. The patients’ mental condition was more likely to worsen than their physical condition. We should take into consideration the necessary care required for both the patient’s physical and mental health after major earthquakes. 

Note: The authors are on behalf of the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake PD Study Group. 

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/influence-of-major-earthquakes-and-their-effects-on-patients-with-parkinsons-disease-a-multi-institutional-study/