Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-7cvxr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T11:13:28.242Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Earthquake-Induced Injuries: Retrospective Epidemiological Analysis of the 2015 Hindu Kush Earthquake in Pakistan

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 December 2018

Junaid Ahmad Open the ORCID record for Junaid Ahmad [Opens in a new window] ,
Mokbul Morshed Ahmad  and
Elena Espigares Rodríguez
Junaid Ahmad*
Affiliation:
Department of Development and Sustainability, Disaster Preparedness, Mitigation and Management, Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand
Mokbul Morshed Ahmad
Affiliation:
School of Environment, Resources, and Development, Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand
Elena Espigares Rodríguez
Affiliation:
Departamento Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Granada, Campus Universitario de Cartuja, Granada, Spain
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to Mr Junaid Ahmad, Department of Development and Sustainability, Disaster Preparedness, Mitigation and Management, Asian Institute of Technology, Khlong Luang, 12120, Pathumthani, Thailand (e-mail: Junaid.ahmad@ait.asia)
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objective

The aim of this study was to analyze retrospectively the earthquake-induced injuries caused by the October 2015 Hindu Kush earthquake in Pakistan. This is the first population-based study to assess epidemiologically earthquake-induced injuries in the Hindu Kush region, one of the world’s most mountainous and seismically active regions. Unfortunately, only limited studies have investigated the earthquake-induced injuries and deaths in the region epidemiologically.

Methods

The 5 worst affected districts were selected according to the highest number of deaths and injuries recorded. A total of 1,790 injuries and 232 deaths were reported after the 2015 earthquake. In our study area, 391 persons were recorded and verified to have been injured as a result of the earthquake. We attempted to investigate all of the 391 injured people, but the final study looked at 346 subjects because the remaining 45 subjects could not be traced because of the non-availability of their complete records and their refusal to participate in the study.

Results

Using the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th revision (ICD 10), we found that the highest number – 20.23% (70 of 346) – of injuries in the earthquake fall in the class of “Injuries to an unspecified part of trunk, limb, or body region (T08-T14).” The class of “Injuries to knee and lower leg (S80-S89),” which count 15.61% (54 out of 346), followed it, and “Injuries involving multiple body regions (T00-T07)” were making 14.74% of total injuries (51 out of 346).

Conclusion

In times of natural disasters like earthquakes, collecting and analyzing real-time data can be challenging. Therefore, a retrospective data analysis of deaths and injuries induced by the earthquake is of high importance. Studies in these emerging domains will be crucial to initiate health policy debates and to prevent and mitigate future injuries and deaths. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2018;13:732–739).

Keywords

community healthcommunity medicinedisaster managementdisaster medicineearthquakesnatural disasterswounds and injuries
Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 13 , Issue 4 , August 2019 , pp. 732 - 739
Copyright
Copyright © 2018 Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

CRED/UNISDR. Poverty and death: disaster mortality, 1996–2015. Published 2016. http://cred.be/sites/default/fles/CRED_Disaster_Mortality.pdf. Accessed January 17, 2017.Google Scholar
Huggel, C, Raissig, A, Rohrer, M, et al. How useful and reliable are disaster databases in the context of climate and global change? A comparative case study analysis in Peru. Nat Hazard Earth Sys. 2015;15(3):475-485. doi:10.5194/nhess-15-475-2015.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Westaway, R, Jackson, J. The earthquake of 1980 November 23 in Campania—Basilicata (Southern Italy). Geophys J Int. 1987;90(2):375-443. doi:10.1111/j.1365-246X.1987.tb00733.x.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Alexander, DE. Disease epidemiology and earthquake disaster: the example of Southern Italy after the 23 November 1980 earthquake. Soc Sci Med. 1982;16(22):1959-1969. doi:10.1016/0277-9536(82)90399-9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Alexander, DE. Death and injury in earthquakes. Disasters. 1985;9(1):57-60. doi:10.1111/j.1467-7717.1985.tb00911.x.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Alexander, DE. The health effects of earthquakes in the mid-1990s. Disasters. 1996;20(3):231-247. doi:10.1111/j.1467-7717.1996.tb01036.x.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Armenian, HK, Melkonian, A, Noji, EK, et al. Deaths and injuries due to the earthquake in Armenia: a cohort approach. Int J Epidemiol. 1997;26(4):806-813. doi:10.1093/ije/26.4.806.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Osaki, Y, Minowa, M. Factors associated with earthquake deaths in the great Hanshin-Awaji earthquake, 1995. Am J Epidemiol. 2001;153(2):153-156. doi:10.1093/aje/153.2.153.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Angus, D, Pretto, E, Abrams, J, et al. Epidemiologic assessment of mortality, building collapse pattern, and medical response after the 1992 earthquake in Turkey. Prehosp Disaster Med. 1997;12(3):49-58. doi:10.1017/S1049023X0003764X.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Peek-Asa, C, Ramirez, M, Seligson, H, et al. Seismic, structural, and individual factors associated with earthquake related injury. Injury Prev. 2003;9(1):62-66. doi:10.1136/ip.9.1.62.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ramirez, M, Peek-Asa, C. Epidemiology of traumatic injuries from earthquakes. Epidemiol Rev. 2005;27(1):47-55. doi:10.1093/epirev/mxi005. CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Noy, I. The macroeconomic consequences of disasters. J Dev Econ. 2009;88(2):221-231. doi:10.1016/j.jdeveco.2008.02.005. CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mu, JE, Chen, Y. Impacts of large natural disasters on regional income. Nat Hazards. 2016;83:1485. doi:10.1007/s11069-016-2372-3.Google Scholar
Cutter, SL, Boruff, BJ, Shirley, WL. Social vulnerability to environmental hazards. Soc Sci Quart. 2003;84(2):242-261. doi:10.1111/1540-6237.8402002.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Enarson, E, Meyreles, L, Gonzalez, M, et al. Working with women at risk: practical guidelines for assessing local disaster risk. Miami, Florida: International Hurricane Center, Florida International University, 2002.Google Scholar
Ganjouei, AK, Ekhlaspour, L, Iranmanesh, E, et al. The pattern of injuries among the victims of the Bam earthquake. Iran J Public Health. 2008;37(3):70-76.Google Scholar
Mahue-Giangreco, M, Mack, W, Seligson, H, et al. Risk factors associated with moderate and serious injuries attributable to the 1994 Northridge earthquake, Los Angeles, California. Ann Epidemiol. 2001;11(5):347-357. doi:10.1016/S1047-2797(01)00220-4.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Shapira, S, Aharonson-Daniel, L, Shohet, I, et al. Integrating epidemiological and engineering approaches in the assessment of human casualties in earthquakes. Nat Hazards. 2015;78(2):1447-1462. doi:10.1007/s11069-015-1780-0.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Blanchet, K, Sistenich, V, Ramesh, A, et al. An evidence review of research on health interventions in humanitarian crises: final report. ELRHA. 2013:153.Google Scholar
Smith, J, Roberts, B, Knight, A, et al. A systematic literature review of the quality of evidence for injury and rehabilitation interventions in humanitarian crises. Int J Public Health. 2015;60(7):865-872. doi:10.1007/s00038-015-0723-6. CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Challen, K, Lee, AC, Booth, A, et al. Where is the evidence for emergency planning: a scoping review? BMC Public Health. 2012;12:542. doi:10.1186/1471-2458-12-542.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mickalide, AD. Strengthening disaster injury epidemiology capacity: update on potential responses to various disasters. APHA Annual Meeting and Expo, Chicago, October 31-November 4, 2015.Google Scholar
Khan, Y, Schwartz, B, Johnson, I. Surveillance and epidemiology in natural disasters: a novel framework and assessment of reliability. PLoS Curr Disasters. 2014. doi:10.1371/currents.dis.6773eb9d5e64b733ab490f78de346003.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mitchell, T, Jones, L, Lovell, E, et al. Disaster risk management in post-2015 development goals: potential targets and indicators. London: Overseas Development Institute, 2013.Google Scholar
Bozkurt, M, Ocguder, A, Turktas, U, et al. The evaluation of trauma patients in Turkish Red Crescent Field Hospital following the Pakistan earthquake in 2005. Injury. 2007;38(3):290-297. 10.1016/j.injury.2006.10.013.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mulvey, JM, Awan, SU, Qadri, AA, et al. Profile of injuries arising from the 2005 Kashmir earthquake: the first 72 h. Injury. 2008;39(5):554-560. doi:10.1016/j.injury.2007.07.025. CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bai, XD, Liu, XH. Retrospective analysis: the earthquake-injured patients in Barakott of Pakistan. Chin J Traumatol. 2009;12(2):122-124. doi:10.3760/cma.j.issn.1008-1275.2009.02.012.Google ScholarPubMed
Zhang, L, Li, H, Carlton, JR, Ursano, R. The injury profile after the 2008 earthquakes in China. Injury. 2009;40(1):84-86. doi:10.1016/j.injury.2008.08.045.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
De Bruycker, M, Greco, D, Lechat, MF, et al. The 1980 earthquake in Southern Italy – morbidity and mortality. Int J Epidemiol. 1985;14(1):113-117. doi:10.1093/ije/14.1.113.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Noji, EK, Kelen, GD, Armenian, HK, et al. The 1988 earthquake in Soviet Armenia: a case study. Ann Emerg Med. 1990;19(8):891-897. doi:10.1016/S0196-0644(05)81563-X.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ellidokuz, H, Ucku, R, Aydin, UY, Ellidokuz, E. Risk factors for death and injuries in earthquake: cross-sectional study from Afyon, Turkey. Croat Med J. 2005;46(4):613.Google ScholarPubMed
Provincial Disaster Management Authority, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Overview of natural disasters 2015 impact, response and managing risks. 2016 (pp. 18-19). http://www.pdma.gov.pk/sites/default/files/Overview%20of%20natural%20disasters%202015_7_0.pdf. Accessed January 14, 2017.Google Scholar
Phalkey, R, Reinhardt, JD, Marx, M. Injury epidemiology after the 2001 Gujarat earthquake in India: a retrospective analysis of injuries treated at a rural hospital in the Kutch district immediately after the disaster. Global Health Action. 2011;4(1). doi:10.3402/gha.v4i0.7196.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ardagh, MW, Richardson, SK, Robinson, V, et al. The initial health-system response to the earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand, in February, 2011. Lancet. 2012;379(9831):2109-2115. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60313-4.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Shoaf, KI, Sareen, HR, Nguyen, LH, Bourque, LB. Injuries as a result of California earthquakes in the past decade. Disasters. 1998;22(3):218-235. doi:10.1111/1467-7717.00088.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Doocy, S, Daniels, A, Packer, C, et al. The human impact of earthquakes: a historical review of events 1980-2009 and systematic literature review. PLoS Curr Disasters. 2013. doi:10.1371/currents.dis.67bd14fe457f1db0b5433a8ee20fb833.Google ScholarPubMed
Sami, F, Ali, F, Zaidi, S, et al. The October 2005 earthquake in Northern Pakistan: pattern of injuries in victims brought to the emergency relief hospital, Doraha, Mansehra. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2009;24(06):535-539. doi:10.1017/S1049023X00007470.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tang, W, Zhao, J, Lu, Y, et al. Mental health problems among children and adolescents experiencing two major earthquakes in remote mountainous regions: a longitudinal study. Compr Psychiatry. 2017;72:66-73. doi:10.1016/j.comppsych.2016.09.004.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Marano, KD, Wald, DJ, Allen, TI. Global earthquake casualties due to secondary effects: a quantitative analysis for improving rapid loss analyses. Nat Hazards. 2010;52(2):319-328. doi:10.1007/s11069-009-9372-5.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
So, E. Estimating Fatality Rates for Earthquake Loss Models. Switzerland: Springer International Publishing AG, 2015. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-26838-5.Google Scholar
Coburn, AW, Spence, RJS. Earthquake Protection. 2nd ed. Chichester, England: John Wiley & Sons; 2002:436.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dhar, SA, Halwai, MA, Mir, MR, et al. The Kashmir earthquake experience. Eur J Trauma Emerg S. 2007;33(1):74-80. doi:10.1007/s00068-007-6141-6. CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Doocy, S, Daniels, A, Aspilcueta, D. Mortality and injury following the 2007 Ica earthquake in Peru. Am J Disaster Med. 2009;4(1):15-22. PMID:19378665.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Farfel, A, Assa, A, Amir, I, et al. Haiti earthquake 2010: a field hospital pediatric perspective. Eur J Pediatr. 2011;170(4):519-525. doi:10.1007/s00431-011-1423-8.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jain, V, Noponen, R, Smith, BM. Pediatric surgical emergencies in the setting of a natural disaster: experiences from the 2001 earthquake in Gujarat, India. J Pediatr Surg. 2003;38(5):663-667. doi:10.1016/jpsu.2003.50178.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jian, HS, Lu, ZM, Li, YY. Epidemiological investigation on Wenchuan earthquake-struck trauma patients admitted to two hospitals of Chongqing. Chin J Traumatol. 2010;13(2):101-102. doi:10.3760/cma.j.issn.1008-1275.2010.02.008.Google ScholarPubMed
Kuwagata, Y, Oda, J, Tanaka, H, et al. Analysis of 2,702 traumatized patients in the 1995 Hanshin-Awaji earthquake. J Trauma. 1997;43(3):427-432.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lu-Ping, Z, Rodriguez-Llanes, JM, Qi, W, et al. Multiple injuries after earthquakes: a retrospective analysis on 1,871 injured patients from the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake. Crit Care. 2012;16(3):R87. doi:10.1186/cc11349.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kahn, ME. The death toll from natural disasters: the role of income, geography, and institutions. Rev Econ Stat. 2005;87(2):271-284. doi:10.1162/0034653053970339. CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bissell, RA, Pinet, L, Nelson, M, Levy, M. Evidence of the effectiveness of health sector preparedness in disaster response: the example of four earthquakes. Fam Community Health. 2004;27(3):193-203.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Yang, C, Wang, HY, Zhong, HJ, et al. The epidemiological analyses of trauma patients in Chongqing teaching hospitals following the Wenchuan earthquake. Injury. 2009;40(5):488-492. doi:10.1016/j.injury.2009.01.102.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed