Disaster epidemiology and medical response in the Chi-Chi earthquake in Taiwan
| Autor: | Yaw Tang Shih, Hsian-Jenn Wang, Ming Ying Liu, Fuh-Yuan Shih, Nai Jen Liang, Hsiu Mei Wu, Shu Feng Shi, Bill Binglong Wang |
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| Rok vydání: | 2001 |
| Předmět: |
Gerontology
Adult Male Risk medicine.medical_specialty Adolescent Taiwan Poison control Disasters Intensive care Cause of Death Epidemiology Injury prevention medicine Craniocerebral Trauma Humans Risk factor Child Aged Aged 80 and over business.industry Multiple Trauma Incidence (epidemiology) Mortality rate Infant Middle Aged Child Preschool Data Interpretation Statistical Emergency Medicine Female Triage business Emergency Service Hospital Disaster medicine Demography |
| Zdroj: | Annals of emergency medicine. 38(5) |
| ISSN: | 0196-0644 |
| Popis: | Study Objective: We examine the mortality and morbidity associated with earthquakes in the Chi-Chi earthquake in Taiwan in 1999. Methods: Crude casualty data were collected from the reports of the government, local health bureaus, and 97 hospitals. The demographic data from the annual report of the Department of Interior were also employed for data analysis. Cross tables showing incidence of deaths and injuries by age, sex, time, and geographic distribution were generated to compare the mortality among different subgroups. Multiple regression models were established to explore the risk factors related to the mortality caused by earthquakes. Results: The following results were found: the mortality rate increased with proximity to the epicenter, mortality was higher among the elderly than among young people, 30% of the victims died from head injuries caused by the collapse of dwellings, and the peak of medical demand was 12 hours after the earthquake and significantly increased demand for care lasted as long as 3 days. Furthermore, the regression model indicated that 78.5% of the variation of locality-age-sex–specific mortality was explained by the intensity of the earthquake, age, population density, distance to epicenter, medical beds per 10,000 people, and physicians per 10,000 people. Conclusion: The results implied that fragile minorities, specifically the elderly and children, require special consideration and attention in regard to disaster rescue and emergency medical care allocation. Epidemiologic analysis can guide disaster response and preparation. [Liang N-J, Shih Y-T, Shih F-Y, Wu H-M, Wang H-J, Shi S-F, Liu M-Y, Wang BB. Disaster epidemiology and medical response in the Chi-Chi earthquake in Taiwan. Ann Emerg Med. November 2001;38:549-555.] |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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