Acute respiratory infections and hypertension crisis in disaster shelters a mobile clinic surveillance study

Mobile health clinics provide essential services during disaster response, yet evidence characterising health service needs in post-flood and landslide settings remains limited, particularly from resource-limited contexts in Southeast Asia. We conducted operational surveillance during mobile clinic operations following December 2025 floods and landslides in rural Indonesia to characterize presenting health conditions and inform disaster response planning. We implemented prospective operational surveillance during 10-day mobile clinic operations (December 18–27, 2025) across 10 disaster-affected locations in Tapanuli Tengah Regency, North Sumatra, Indonesia. A multi-disciplinary team provided comprehensive health services including medical consultation, physiotherapy, and nutrition counseling. Diseases were classified using ICD-10 codes; hypertension was categorized according to ACC/AHA 2017 guidelines. Data were collected using standardized digital forms and analyzed descriptively. Statistical analysis included frequencies and percentages for categorical variables, with 95% confidence intervals calculated for all proportions. Chi-square tests were used for categorical comparisons and t-tests for continuous variables, with significance set at p < 0.05. Among 1,021 patients presenting to mobile health clinics, acute respiratory infections accounted for 30.9% of attendees (315 cases), followed by hypertension (26.4%, 270 cases) and musculoskeletal conditions (38.4%, 392 cases). Among eligible adults, 7.9% presented with hypertension urgency (BP ≥ 180/120 mmHg). ARI proportion reaching 43.0% among attendees from overcrowded shelters. Physiotherapy services addressed a substantial musculoskeletal burden (389 interventions). Multiple diagnoses occurred in 31.3% of patients; 2.7% required emergency referral. Among patients seeking care at mobile clinics in disaster-affected areas, acute respiratory infections were common (30.9% of attendees), cardiovascular conditions requiring urgent attention were identified in 7.9% of adults screened, and musculoskeletal complaints were frequent (38.4%). These findings reflect health service needs among clinic users and may not represent the entire disaster-affected population.