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Table 3 Characteristics of included publications by disease type: Chronic Respiratory Disease

From: Systematic review on chronic non-communicable disease in disaster settings

 

Country/Territory of Interest

WHO region

Type of study

Target Population

Years of observation

Number of study participants

Major findings

Abul (2001) [66]

Kuwait

EMRO

Retrospective chart review

Patients admitted with asthma in Kuwait

2001

12,113 asthma patients during the pre-Gulf War period compared with 9,771 patients during the post-Gulf War period

No significant difference between hospitalization or death rates pre and post Gulf War

Bijani (2002) [67]

Iran

EMRO

Retrospective chart review

Patients exposed to chemical weapons in northern Iran

1994—1998

220 patients

Obstructive lung disease was a common finding amongst patients exposed to chemical weapons in Iran

Ebrahimi (2014) [68]

Iran

EMRO

Retrospective chart review

Patients with respiratory or cardiac diseases in Sanandaj, Iran

March 2009—June 2010

Cardiac disease, but not respiratory disease, was significantly correlated with dust storm events

El-Sharif (2002) [69]

West Bank/Palestinian Territories

EMRO

Retrospective chart review

Schoolchildren in Ramallah District, Palestine

Autumn of 2000

3,382 children

Children from refugee camps appear to be at higher risk of asthma than children from neighboring villages or cities. Multivariate logistic regression confirmed that the estimated risk of having wheezing in the previous 12 months was higher for those residing in refugee camps than those living in neighboring villages and cities

Forouzan (2014) [70]

Iran

EMRO

Prospective observational

Patients presenting with asthma or bronchospasm in western Iran

Nov-13

2000 patients

Many patients presented with bronchospasm after a thunderstorm

Hung (2013) [42]

China

Western Pacific

Cross-sectional chart review

Patients presenting during 19 days following the Sichuan earthquake

Jun-08

2,034 patients

Musculoskeletal, respiratory, and GI problems were the top 3 areas and > 43% of patients had BP in HTN range

Kunii (2002) [71]

Indonesia

South-East Asia

Cross sectional

Patients exposed to air pollution in the “haze disaster” in Indonesia

September 1997 -October 1997

543 subjects

Patients had increased respiratory issues after a large forest fire disaster, especially the elderly. Wearing a high quality face mask was protective (vs handkerchief or simple surgical mask)

Lari (2014) [72]

Iran

EMRO

Cross sectional

Patients exposed to sulphur mustard gas

March 2010- April 2011

82 patients

The COPD Assessment Test (CAT) was found to be a valid tool for assessment of health related quality of life in chemical warfare patients with COPD

Mirsadraee (2011) [73]

Iran

EMRO

Retrospective Cohort

Patients whose parents were exposed to chemical warfare

409 children

The prevalence of asthma was not significantly different in the offspring of chemical warfare victims

Molla (2014) [74]

Bangladesh

South-East Asia

Cross sectional

Children 5 years of age in Dhaka with diarrhea and asthma

September 2012 -November 2012

410 households

The DALYs lost due to asthma and diarrhea were significantly different amongst the climate refugee community than a non refugee group

Naumova (2007) [75]

Ecuador

Americas

Cross sectional chart review

ED patients after a volcanic eruption in Quito, Ecuador

January 2000 -December 2000

5,169 patients

Rate of ED visits for respiratory conditions significantly increased in 3 weeks after eruption. Rates of asthma and asthma related diagnosis double during volcano “fumarolic activity”. 345 excess ED visits in 4 weeks

Guha-Sapir(2007) [76]

Indonesia

South East Asia

Cross sectional

Patients attending an International Committee of the Red Cross(ICRC) field hospital in Aceh, Indonesia, established immediately after the tsunami in 2004

2 January 15, 2004- January 31 2,004,005–2010

1,188 study participants

Post tsunami, respiratory diseases were one of the most commonly recorded conditions (21.0%) and included acute asthma exacerbations

Redwood-Campbell (2006) [77]

Indonesia

South-East Asia

Cross Sectional

Patients registering in the ICRC field hospital in Banda Aceh after the tsunami

Mar-05

271 patients

12% of the problems seen in the clinic 9 weeks after the tsunami were still directly related to the tsunami. Majority of patients were male, the problems were urologic, digestive, respiratory and musculoskeletal in that order. 24% had 4 or more depression/PTSD symptoms

Wright (2010) [78]

Kuwait

EMRO

Cross sectional

Patients in Kuwait following the Iraqi invasion

December 2003—January 2005

5028 subjects

Study suggested that those who reported highest stress exposure in the invasion were more than twice as likely to report asthma. Suggestive of correlation between war trauma and asthma