Data for: Increase in asthma prevalence in adults in temporary housing after the Great East Japan Earthquake

Background: It is unknown whether disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis affect asthma development or exacerbation in the elderly. Here, we investigated whether asthma prevalence increased in the elderly living in temporary housing after the Great East Japan Earthquake. Methods: We diagnosed asthma according to GINA guidelines in residents 15 years or older who were living, or had lived, in temporary housing in the city of Ishinomaki. We analyzed serum antigen-specific anti-immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibody levels to Dermatophagoides farinae (Der f), Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus glaucus, Aspergillus amstelodami, and Aspergillus restrictus. Results: The average age of the 337 inhabitants was 61.3 ± 15.8 years (men, 37.7% ). The asthma prevalence was 24.9% by specialist diagnosis. The antigen-specific IgE antibody titer against Der f, but none of the other test antigens, was significantly higher in the asthma group than in the no-asthma group (P < 0.01). Time of asthma onset was before the earthquake, 44.6%; in shelters, 9.5%, and after moving into temporary housing, 45.9%. In 71.4% of asthmatics there was exacerbation of asthma after temporary housing occupancy. Logistic regression revealed that the risk factors for developing asthma after moving into temporary housing were more middle-aged (P < 0.05), allergic rhinitis or allergic conjunctivitis (P < 0.05), family asthma history (P < 0.05), never having smoked (P < 0.01), and peripheral airways disorder (lower % V50) (P < 0.05), but not depression. Conclusions: The earthquake and tsunami disasters increased mite allergen sensitization and exacerbation or development of asthma in elderly residents.

背景：地震、海啸等灾害是否会影响老年人群哮喘的发生与病情加重，目前尚无定论。本研究以东日本大地震后居住于石卷市临时安置住房的老年居民为研究对象，探讨其哮喘患病率是否升高。
方法：本研究纳入石卷市曾居住或现居住于临时安置住房的15岁及以上居民，依据全球哮喘防治创议（Global Initiative for Asthma, GINA）指南进行哮喘诊断。检测受试者血清中针对粉尘螨（Dermatophagoides farinae, Der f）、烟曲霉（Aspergillus fumigatus）、灰黄曲霉（Aspergillus glaucus）、阿姆斯特丹曲霉（Aspergillus amstelodami）及局限曲霉（Aspergillus restrictus）的抗原特异性抗免疫球蛋白E（immunoglobulin E, IgE）抗体水平。
结果：本研究共纳入337名居民，平均年龄为61.3±15.8岁，男性占比37.7%。经专科医生诊断，受试者哮喘患病率为24.9%。哮喘组受试者血清中针对粉尘螨的抗原特异性IgE抗体滴度显著高于非哮喘组（P<0.01），而针对其余检测抗原的抗体滴度则无此差异。哮喘起病时间分布为：震前起病占44.6%，避难所期间起病占9.5%，迁入临时安置住房后起病占45.9%。71.4%的哮喘患者在入住临时安置住房后出现哮喘病情加重。Logistic回归分析显示，迁入临时安置住房后新发哮喘的危险因素包括：中老年（P<0.05）、过敏性鼻炎或过敏性结膜炎（P<0.05）、哮喘家族史（P<0.05）、从未吸烟（P<0.01）以及外周气道功能障碍（%V50降低，P<0.05），而抑郁并非相关危险因素。
结论：本次地震与海啸灾害可提升老年居民对螨类变应原的致敏率，同时可诱导哮喘发生或加剧其原有哮喘病情。