More heart attacks for quake-hit Christchurch women

Photo / Mark Mitchell

A study showing a large spike in the number of women suffering heart attacks following September's 7.1 magnitude quake has surprised researchers.

The study of Christchurch Hospital clinical records in the wake of the tremor found a significant link between the quake and an increase in the number of heart attacks (acute myocardial infarction, or AMI), particularly in women, The Southland Times reported today.

Seventeen people were admitted to hospital with AMI on the day of the quake, more than half of them women.

Bergur Stefansson, who presented his findings at the Winter Symposium of the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine in Queenstown yesterday, said the daily average pre-quake was 5.5.

The spike in AMI patients continued the following week, with 59 cases.

"We saw 59 patients with AMI the week directly after the quake, of which 35 were female. Usually we see a lot more men than women," Dr Stefansson said.

"It was very unexpected as we usually get a lot more male cases but it seems like women respond differently to an event like this. The reason why is something we'll never know."

The timing of the earthquake was also important and the September quake, which hit at 4.35am, followed the trend in studies of other significant earthquakes.

"Looking at previous research, AMI is significantly higher if a quake hits in the dark, early hours of the morning, as September's did. If it hits after 10.30am, there is hardly any change in AMI rates."

Dr Stefansson said the numbers had the potential to be even higher if data from other hospitals was included.

Christchurch Hospital was inundated with people suffering from stress cardiomyopathy, or broken heart syndrome, in the hours after the earthquake.

The condition is brought on by sudden emotional strain but, unlike an anxiety attack, part of the heart stops working.

- NZPA