Researchers in Hiroshima examined the aftermath of the 2018 Japan Floods, emphasising the pressing necessity for comprehensive disaster preparedness plans to effectively address the long-term healthcare needs of communities.
Climate change-induced natural disasters, such as heatwaves, storms, and floods, pose a significant global problem. These disasters not only destroy safe living environments but also result in loss of life and various diseases. Recovering from such disasters requires substantial healthcare resources and costs, both in immediate response and long-term recovery. To that end, the World Health Organization (WHO) has emphasised the need for cost estimation studies to develop effective disaster preparedness policies.
In response to this call, a team of researchers from Hiroshima University and Hiroshima University Hospital evaluated the effect of the 2018 Japan Floods on healthcare costs and service utilisation. Japan, like many other countries, has experienced the devastating effects of climate-related disasters, particularly floods and torrential rains. The 2018 Japan Floods, which occurred in July of that year, caused significant damage in western Japan, resulting in hundreds of fatalities, injuries, and the destruction of thousands of houses. The total economic damage from this disaster was estimated at approximately USD9.86 billion—the highest ever recorded for floods in Japan’s history.
To understand the effects of the 2018 Japan Floods, the team analysed data from the National Database of Health Insurance Claims, including patients’ healthcare receipts from July 2017 to June 2019 in Hiroshima, Okayama and Ehime prefectures. The study used advanced statistical techniques called Generalized Estimating Equations (GEEs) to evaluate various factors, such as yearly healthcare costs, high-cost patients, and service utilisation.
The researchers found that victims had higher medical costs and utilized healthcare services more frequently than non-victims. The increased healthcare costs were observed primarily in the year following the disaster, indicating the long-term impact on health.
“In particular, participants aged 80 years and older had higher utilization of healthcare services, particularly inpatient care, compared to other age groups. This finding aligns with data from regular national censuses, indicating that older individuals generally require more healthcare services, including inpatient care, regardless of whether a disaster has occurred,” shared Shuhei Yoshida, who is both the lead and corresponding author of the study. “However, an interesting contrast emerged regarding the utilisation of inpatient care between women and men. While the census data suggests that women tend to have fewer hospitalisations than men, we found that women used inpatient care less frequently than men after the disaster. This discrepancy may be attributed to the unique and diverse healthcare needs that emerged within the community due to the disaster.
The study’s findings were published in BMC Public Health.
By assessing the impact on healthcare costs and service utilisation, this study provides valuable insights that can guide policymakers and healthcare providers in addressing the healthcare needs of affected communities in the face of climate change-induced disasters.