Impact of 2018 Japan floods on allergic rhinitis prescriptions
Background: Climate change and natural disasters can impact allergic conditions. The 2018 Japan floods, which occurred in July 2018, were among the largest water-related disasters in Japan's history. We aimed to investigate the impact of flooding on prescription rates for allergic rhinitis. Met...
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Elsevier
2025-05-01
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| Series: | World Allergy Organization Journal |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1939455125000262 |
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| author | Hanae Konishi, MD Hiroshi Iwamoto, MD, PhD Shuhei Yoshida, MD, PhD Yasushi Horimasu, MD, PhD Shinichiro Ohshimo, MD, PhD Kota Takemoto, MD, PhD Noboru Hattori, MD, PhD Sachio Takeno, MD, PhD Masatoshi Matsumoto, MD, PhD |
| author_facet | Hanae Konishi, MD Hiroshi Iwamoto, MD, PhD Shuhei Yoshida, MD, PhD Yasushi Horimasu, MD, PhD Shinichiro Ohshimo, MD, PhD Kota Takemoto, MD, PhD Noboru Hattori, MD, PhD Sachio Takeno, MD, PhD Masatoshi Matsumoto, MD, PhD |
| author_sort | Hanae Konishi, MD |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Climate change and natural disasters can impact allergic conditions. The 2018 Japan floods, which occurred in July 2018, were among the largest water-related disasters in Japan's history. We aimed to investigate the impact of flooding on prescription rates for allergic rhinitis. Methods: This retrospective cohort study utilized data from the National Database of Health Insurance Claims from 1 year before and after the flood in the most severely affected region. Individuals with a victim code certified by local authorities were categorized into the victim group, whereas the others were classified into the non-victim group. A difference-in-differences analysis with a logistic regression model was employed to evaluate the impact of the disaster on prescription rates of corticosteroids or antihistamine nasal sprays. Cedar and cypress pollen (the major allergens causing seasonal rhinitis during spring in Japan) counts were measured using a rotary-type pollen collector. Results: Among 6,176,299 individuals included, 36,076 were identified as flood victims. An upward trend in prescriptions was observed during the cedar and cypress pollen season from February to April, and the pattern of higher prescriptions among disaster victims relative to non-victims continued throughout both the pollen and non-pollen seasons after the disaster. The difference-in-differences analysis indicated a significant increase in nasal spray prescription in disaster victims compared with non-victims, with adjusted odds ratios of 1.40 (95% confidence interval: 1.24–1.58) 3 months after the disaster and 1.72 (95% confidence interval: 1.56–1.95) 1 year after. Subgroup analyses showed that the prescription rates of nasal spray significantly increased across all age groups and in both males and females among disaster victims compared to non-victims. Conclusions: This study demonstrated a long-term increase in prescriptions for allergic rhinitis among flood victims, underscoring the need to recognize natural disasters as potential contributors to the incidence of allergic rhinitis. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-34a0a4f4a5ed4cb0a5411daa1bd00aac |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1939-4551 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
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| series | World Allergy Organization Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-34a0a4f4a5ed4cb0a5411daa1bd00aac2025-08-20T02:24:59ZengElsevierWorld Allergy Organization Journal1939-45512025-05-0118510105110.1016/j.waojou.2025.101051Impact of 2018 Japan floods on allergic rhinitis prescriptionsHanae Konishi, MD0Hiroshi Iwamoto, MD, PhD1Shuhei Yoshida, MD, PhD2Yasushi Horimasu, MD, PhD3Shinichiro Ohshimo, MD, PhD4Kota Takemoto, MD, PhD5Noboru Hattori, MD, PhD6Sachio Takeno, MD, PhD7Masatoshi Matsumoto, MD, PhD8Department of Molecular and Internal Medicine, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan; Department of Community-Based Medical Systems, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8551, JapanDepartment of Molecular and Internal Medicine, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan; Corresponding author.Department of Community-Based Medical Systems, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8551, JapanDepartment of Molecular and Internal Medicine, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8551, JapanDepartment of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8551, JapanDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8551, JapanDepartment of Molecular and Internal Medicine, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8551, JapanDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8551, JapanDepartment of Community-Based Medical Systems, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8551, JapanBackground: Climate change and natural disasters can impact allergic conditions. The 2018 Japan floods, which occurred in July 2018, were among the largest water-related disasters in Japan's history. We aimed to investigate the impact of flooding on prescription rates for allergic rhinitis. Methods: This retrospective cohort study utilized data from the National Database of Health Insurance Claims from 1 year before and after the flood in the most severely affected region. Individuals with a victim code certified by local authorities were categorized into the victim group, whereas the others were classified into the non-victim group. A difference-in-differences analysis with a logistic regression model was employed to evaluate the impact of the disaster on prescription rates of corticosteroids or antihistamine nasal sprays. Cedar and cypress pollen (the major allergens causing seasonal rhinitis during spring in Japan) counts were measured using a rotary-type pollen collector. Results: Among 6,176,299 individuals included, 36,076 were identified as flood victims. An upward trend in prescriptions was observed during the cedar and cypress pollen season from February to April, and the pattern of higher prescriptions among disaster victims relative to non-victims continued throughout both the pollen and non-pollen seasons after the disaster. The difference-in-differences analysis indicated a significant increase in nasal spray prescription in disaster victims compared with non-victims, with adjusted odds ratios of 1.40 (95% confidence interval: 1.24–1.58) 3 months after the disaster and 1.72 (95% confidence interval: 1.56–1.95) 1 year after. Subgroup analyses showed that the prescription rates of nasal spray significantly increased across all age groups and in both males and females among disaster victims compared to non-victims. Conclusions: This study demonstrated a long-term increase in prescriptions for allergic rhinitis among flood victims, underscoring the need to recognize natural disasters as potential contributors to the incidence of allergic rhinitis.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1939455125000262Climate changeEpidemiologyNatural disasterRhinitis |
| spellingShingle | Hanae Konishi, MD Hiroshi Iwamoto, MD, PhD Shuhei Yoshida, MD, PhD Yasushi Horimasu, MD, PhD Shinichiro Ohshimo, MD, PhD Kota Takemoto, MD, PhD Noboru Hattori, MD, PhD Sachio Takeno, MD, PhD Masatoshi Matsumoto, MD, PhD Impact of 2018 Japan floods on allergic rhinitis prescriptions World Allergy Organization Journal Climate change Epidemiology Natural disaster Rhinitis |
| title | Impact of 2018 Japan floods on allergic rhinitis prescriptions |
| title_full | Impact of 2018 Japan floods on allergic rhinitis prescriptions |
| title_fullStr | Impact of 2018 Japan floods on allergic rhinitis prescriptions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of 2018 Japan floods on allergic rhinitis prescriptions |
| title_short | Impact of 2018 Japan floods on allergic rhinitis prescriptions |
| title_sort | impact of 2018 japan floods on allergic rhinitis prescriptions |
| topic | Climate change Epidemiology Natural disaster Rhinitis |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1939455125000262 |
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