Glycemic control of people with diabetes over months after the 2018 North Osaka Earthquake.

Objective: On June 18 2018, Japan experienced the North Osaka Earthquake. The shaking intensity was recorded as level 6 of the Japan Meteorological Agency Seismic Intensity Scale. Despite the severe shaking, damages of lifelines and transportation networks were limited, and they were completely recovered within several days. We investigated whether the glycemic control in patients with diabetes was deteriorated over months after the earthquake.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed diabetic outpatients attending the department of Metabolic Medicine, Osaka University Hospital, close to the epicenter of the earthquake, in 2018 ( = 1940), and those in 2017 ( = 1908) as a control. Whether glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels were elevated after the earthquake, and whether the post-earthquake HbA1c elevation was more prevalent in areas with a higher seismic intensity were investigated using the mixed effects model.

Results: Compared to the same periods in 2017, mean HbA1c levels in 2018 were significantly higher 3-6 months after the earthquake ( < 0.05). The risk of HbA1c ≥ 7.0% was 1.6 (95% confidence interval 1.2-2.2) and 1.7 (1.2-2.4) times higher 3-4 and 5-6 months after the earthquake. Furthermore, the proportion of HbA1c deterioration after the earthquake was higher in areas with a higher seismic intensity ( for trend = 0.025).

Conclusion: Glycemic control was significantly deteriorated over months after the 2018 North Osaka Earthquake despite limited damage of lifelines and transportation networks. The deterioration was more prevalent in areas with a high seismic intensity.