16 Nov Heart Attacks Tripled in Disaster Area Post Katrina
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Anand M. Irimpen MD
Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine
Tulane University Medical Center
New Orleans, LA
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Response: We did this study to look at the incidence of heart attacks post Katrina. There had been no long-term data on patients having heart attacks post major disaster and hence we decided to investigate this issue.
The main findings are that there is a three-fold increase in heart attacks post Katrina compared to pre – Katrina. There was a higher incidence of hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia and smoking in the post-Katrina group compared to the pre-Katrina group.
MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?
Response: We should prioritize our health post major disaster as we tend not to be health conscious post disaster because we are busy rebuilding.
MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?
Response: Analyzing data from other hospitals in the area to observe the long-term effects of Katrina in the area.
In the wake of major disasters nationwide and globally, it would be interesting to get information about long-term effects in those regions.
MedicalResearch.com: Is there anything else you would like to add?
Response: With the increased incidence of major disasters affecting the US and worldwide, as a cardiologist, I feel that it is important to understand the qualitative and quantitative causative factors affecting the heart.
As our knowledge increases, we can pool our resources to offer well-formulated solutions to prevent the cardiac effects or minimize them. In this way, we help communities, healthcare personnel, and governments better prepare to impact the incidence of heart attacks post disaster.
MedicalResearch.com: Thank you for your contribution to the MedicalResearch.com community.
Citation: AHA 2016 abstract November 2016
Hurricane Katrina and Acute Myocardial Infarction: Ten Years After the Storm
Hassan Baydoun, John Moscona, Patrick Ters, Ahmad Jabbar, Alaa Boulad, Indrajeet Mahata, Taraka Gadiraju, Muhammad Raja, Kapil Yadav, Holly Gonzales, Christopher Westley, Ryan Nelson, Diane Davis, Thomas Middour, Chase Cannon, Sudesh Srivastav, Anand Irimpen, Tulane Univ Medical Ctr, New Orleans, LA
Note: Content is Not intended as medical advice. Please consult your health care provider regarding your specific medical condition and questions.
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Last Updated on November 16, 2016 by Marie Benz MD FAAD