Predictors and prognostic impact of post-traumatic stress disorder after the great east Japan Earthquake in patients with cardiovascular disease: Report from the CHART-2 study

Abstract

Background: We examined the prevalence, predictors and prognostic impact of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after the Great East Japan Earthquake in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the CHART-2 study. Methods and Results: The prevalence of PTSD was 14.7% at 6 months after the Earthquake. Female sex, experiencing the Tsunami, property loss, poverty, and insomnia medication use were associated with PTSD. The patients with PTSD more frequently experienced a composite of death, acute myocardial infarction, stroke and heart failure (18.5% vs. 15.0%, P=0.035). Conclusions: PTSD was frequent in CVD patients after the Earthquake and had an adverse prognostic impact.