Changes in pulmonary function of residents in Sanriku Seacoast following the tsunami disaster from the Great East Japan Earthquake

Background

Residents in the district struck by the Great East Japan Earthquake Tsunami (GEJET) suffered from adverse living conditions and various pulmonary diseases.

Objectives

To evaluate the influence of GEJET, we performed serial assessment of pulmonary function of approximately 10,000 residents in the district struck by GEJET.

Methods

Using a spirometer, we assessed the pulmonary function of approximately 10,000 residents older than 18 years in the Sanriku seacoast, which was struck by the tsunami. Measurements were performed in 2011 and 2012.

Results

We compared FVC (forced vital capacity) % pred. and FEV1 (forced expiratory volume in 1 second) % pred. of subjects between 2011 and 2012, by serial spirometry. Of the 7053 subjects studied, including 2611 men and 4442 women, FVC% pred. and FEV1% pred. were significantly higher in 2012 than in 2011. Physical indices including height, body weight and the body mass index (BMI) did not change significantly during this period. Smoking prevalence changed significantly between 2010, 2011, and 2012. Both FVC% pred. and FEV1% pred. of subjects who had quit smoking increased significantly on spirometry carried out in 2012, compared with those in 2011.

Conclusions

The pulmonary function expressed as FVC% pred. and FEV1% pred. were significantly higher in 2012 than in 2011 among the subjects studied. The changes in the smoking status may be one of the reasons for the increase in values observed. However, other undetermined factors during recovery from a disaster might have resulted in improved pulmonary function.