Increased Incidence of Tachyarrhythmias and Heart Failure Hospitalization in Patients With Implanted Cardiac Devices After the Great East Japan Earthquake Disaster

Abstract

Background: After the East Japan Earthquake disaster there may have been a deterioration of patients with cardiovascular diseases. Methods and Results: We examined the data from 189 consecutive patients implanted with cardiovascular devices for the 6-month period before and after the Earthquake. In 170 patients with defibrillators, the number who experienced tachyarrhythmias increased significantly after the Earthquake (28±5 vs. 34±3 patients/month, P<0.05). In 74 patients with biventricular pacemakers, the number of heart failure hospitalizations significantly increased after the Earthquake (1.2±1.0 vs. 2.7±1.2 patients/month, P<0.05). Conclusions: The East Japan Earthquake disaster unfavorably affected patients implanted with defibrillators or biventricular pacemakers. (Circ J 2012; 76: 1283-1285)