Of most frequent types of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMR) conditions of patients treated in the Astrodome Clinic after a historic hurricane Katrina showed the majority (75%) of PMR conditions presented in the first week. Most frequent were swollen feet and legs (22%), leg pain and cramps (17%), headache (12%), and neck and back pain (10%). Persons with headaches were younger than those without (41.3 vs. 46.3 yrs, P = 0.048). Persons with neck and/or back pain were older than those without those conditions (51.3 vs. 44.8 yrs, P = 0.004). Women had more headaches (20.9%) than did men (6.7%, P = 0.002). There were no Caucasians with leg pain/cramps, whereas 20.2% of African Americans had this condition (P = 0.028). (Chiou-Tan FY. Bloodworth DM. Kass JS. Li X. Gavagan TF. Mattox K. Rintala DH. Physical medicine and rehabilitation conditions in the Astrodome clinic after hurricane Katrina. American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. 86(9):762-9, 2007).
Severe natural disasters can cause long-term psychological impact on the survivors. This study aimed to examine the prevalence and risk factors of posttraumatic stress symptoms and psychiatric morbidity among survivors of the severe earthquake that occurred in Chi-Chi, Taiwan, in September 21, 1999. A total of 6412 earthquake survivors whose houses were destroyed by earthquake were recruited about 2 years after the disaster. The estimated rates of posttraumatic stress disorder and psychiatric morbidity were 20.9% and 39.8%, respectively. Psychiatric morbidity occurred mainly in survivors who were female, older, with low education level, and currently living in a prefabricated house and experienced complete destruction of property. The findings of risk factors suggest avenues for targeting post-disaster interventions (Chen CH. Tan HK. Liao LR. Chen HH. Chan CC. Cheng JJ. Chen CY. Wang TN. Lu ML. Long-term psychological outcome of 1999 Taiwan earthquake survivors: a survey of a high-risk sample with property damage).
The post-tsunami health and nutritional statuses of survivors were surveyed three months after the disaster struck. The study group still suffered from injuries after the disaster, and complained of back pain, stress, and sleep disorders. Most in the study group had unsatisfactory health behaviors, and obesity was an increasing problem among female participants. (Kwanbunjan K. Mas-ngammueng R. Chusongsang P. Chusongsang Y. Maneekan P. Chantaranipapong Y. Pooudong S. Butraporn P. Health and nutrition survey of tsunami victims in Phang-Nga Province, Thailand. Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine & Public Health. 37(2):382-7, 2006)