Call for Clearly Defining Disaster-Related Sequelae

Recent advances in disaster countermeasures have reduced the number of direct deaths; however, population aging and medical progress have resulted in an increase in the number of individuals with chronic diseases and disabilities, rendering them vulnerable to secondary health effects caused by disrupted care and environmental changes during disasters. Public support systems for disaster-related health impacts are systematically established only in Japan and the USA. Although compensation schemes for disaster-related deaths have been progressively expanded, comprehensive support for survivors who require long-term medical and social care owing to indirect, post-disaster health effects remains insufficiently developed. After the Great East Japan earthquake, increases in stroke hospitalizations, depression, and cognitive decline were observed, while international cases, such as the post-earthquake cancer incidence in Nepal, highlight global relevance. Thus, the definition of "disaster-related sequelae" and the establishment of comprehensive medical and social support systems, including compensation, continuity of care, and preventive education, are urgently needed.