Abstract
Objectives: The incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) has been reported to increase after large-scale disasters. Shelter environments, decreased activity, and overnight stays in cars have been reported as causes of DVT after disasters, while aging is a common risk factor for DVT. There are few reports on DVT detection rates in evacuees compared to those in the general population. In this study, we screened DVT in the elderly general population and compared the DVT detection rate and its background factors to those of elderly evacuees (Kumamoto earthquakes, April 2016). Methods: We conducted DVT screening in the elderly general population at a health event in Tsuruga City, Fukui Prefecture, Japan. The number of subjects in the general population was 81 (69.4 ± 8.0 years old) and in the earthquake evacuees was 207 (68.2 ± 16.1 years old). Medical interviews and lower limb venous ultrasounds were performed in all cases. Results: The DVT detection rate in earthquake evacuees was 11.1% (23/207) and that in the general population was 2.5% (2/81). DVT, insomnia, difficulty standing up from the floor or bed, dehydration, staying in a car, and dyslipidemia were significantly higher in earthquake evacuees than in the general population. Although the prevalence of DVT was low in the general population, soleus vein dilatation and hypertension were observed in DVT-positive individuals. Conclusion: The DVT detection rate in elderly earthquake evacuees was over 4 times higher than that in the elderly general population, and various background factors directly related to large-scale disasters were involved.
