ABSTRACT
Resumen: El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar la mortalidad durante las olas de calor en la ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina, para el período 2005-2015. Utilizamos un diseño de series temporales con modelos aditivos generalizados, vinculando mortalidad con días de ola de calor en todo el período, y con días de la ola de calor de 2013, la más prolongada desde el año 1906, controlando por variables temporales, temperatura media y humedad. Encontramos que el riesgo de muerte por causas naturales se incrementa en un 14% (RR = 1,140; IC95%: 1,108-1,173) durante las olas de calor, respecto al resto de los días del semestre cálido. El incremento se da en ambos sexos y en todos los grupos de edad, siendo más afectados los menores de 15 (RR = 1,167; IC95%: 1,019-1,335) y los mayores de 84 años (RR = 1,201; IC95%: 1,098-1,313). En la ola de calor de diciembre de 2013 aumentaron 43% (RR = 1,428; IC95%: 1,399-1,457) las muertes diarias totales, valor que sube al 51% para el grupo de mayores de 84 años (RR = 1,515; IC95%: 1,372-1,674) y al 65% (RR = 1,647; IC95%: 1,367-1,986) para las causas renales. Concluimos que las olas de calor constituyen un factor significativo de riesgo de muerte, diferente según sexo y edad, para la población de la ciudad de Buenos Aires.
Abstract: This study aimed to analyze mortality during heat waves in the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 2005-2015. We used a time series design with generalized additive models, linking mortality to days of heat waves throughout the period, and to days of the heat wave in 2013, the longest wave since 1906, controlling for time variables, mean temperature, and humidity. Risk of death from natural causes increased by 14% (RR = 1.140; 95%CI: 1.108-1.173) during heat waves when compared to the other days in the hot season. The increase occurred in both sexes and in all age groups, and individuals under 15 years of age were more affected (RR = 1.167; 95%CI: 1.019-1.335) as were those over 84 years (RR = 1.201; 95%CI: 1.098-1.313). The heat wave in December 2013 showed an increase of 43% (RR = 1.428; 95%CI: 1.399-1.457) in total daily deaths, increasing to 51% in individuals over 84 years (RR = 1.515; 95%CI: 1.372-1.674) and 65% (RR = 1.647; 95%CI: 1.367-1.986) for renal causes. We conclude that heat waves pose a significant risk of death, differing according to sex and age in the population of Buenos Aires.
Resumo: O objetivo deste trabalho é analisar a mortalidade durante as ondas de calor na cidade de Buenos Aires, Argentina, no período de 2005-2015. Foi usado um desenho de séries temporais com modelos aditivos generalizados, vinculando a mortalidade com dias de onda de calor em todo o período, e com dias da onda de calor em 2013, a mais prolongada desde o ano de 1906, controlando através de variáveis temporais, temperatura media e umidade. Encontramos que o risco de morte por causas naturais teve um incremento de 14% (RR = 1,140; IC95%: 1,108-1,173) durante as ondas de calor, ao respeito do resto dos dias do semestre cálido. O incremento se produz em ambos os sexos e em todos os grupos de idade, sendo mais afetados os menores de 15 (RR = 1,167; IC95%: 1,019-1,335) e os maiores de 84 anos (RR = 1,201; IC95%: 1,098-1,313). Na onda de calor que ocorreu em dezembro de 2013 aumentaram um 43% (RR = 1,428; IC95%: 1,399-1,457) as mortes diárias totais, valor que sobe a 51% para o grupo de pessoas maiores de 84 anos (RR = 1,515; IC95%: 1,372-1,674) e a 65% (RR = 1,647; IC95%: 1,367-1,986) para as causas renais, Concluímos que as ondas de calor constituem um fator significativo de risco de morte, diferente segundo o sexo e idade, para a população da cidade de Buenos Aires.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Infant , Child, Preschool , Child , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Young Adult , Mortality/trends , Extreme Heat/adverse effects , Argentina/epidemiology , Respiration Disorders/mortality , Cardiovascular Diseases/mortality , Cause of Death , Middle AgedABSTRACT
South Sudan is at risk from the impact of climate change. This paper reviews the climate change issues faced by South Sudan, and the strategy as outlined to the United Nations. The author argues that the policy overlooks a key potential cause of future morbidity and mortality: increased ambient temperatures, particularly in urban centres due to the urban heat island effect. The capital is especially susceptible to heat-related mortality as it faces a 'triple threat': rapidly rising temperatures, an at-risk population profile, and inadequate planning for the pressures of urbanisation. Four low-cost, evidence-based recommendations are given to mitigate the impact of heatwaves on human health, and it is concluded that South Sudan has great potential to become a regional leader in heat resilience
Subject(s)
Climate Change , Extreme Heat , Hot Temperature , South SudanABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The objectives of the present study are to: (i) evaluate the effect of environmental and metabolic heat on heat-related illnesses in outdoor workers; and (ii) evaluate the effect of personal factors, including heat acclimation, on the risk of heat-related illnesses in outdoor workers. METHODS: We identified 47 cases of illnesses from exposure to environmental heat in outdoor workers in Korea from 2010 to 2014, based on review of workers' compensation data. We also obtained the information on location, time, and work environment of each heat-related illness. RESULTS: Our major results are that 29 cases (61.7%) occurred during a heat wave. Forty five cases (95.7%) occurred when the maximum estimated WBGT (WBGTmax) was equal to or greater than the case specific threshold value which was determined by acclimatization and metabolic rate. Twenty two cases (46.8%) were not acclimated to the heat. Thirty-seven cases (78.7%) occurred after tropical night (temperature above 25 °C), during which many people may find it hard to sleep. CONCLUSION: Personal risk factors such as heat acclimation as well as environmental factors and high metabolic rate during work are the major determinants of heat-related illnesses.
Subject(s)
Humans , Acclimatization , Extreme Heat , Hot Temperature , Infrared Rays , Korea , Risk Factors , Workers' CompensationABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the impacts of air temperature on years of life lost (YLL) among the residents in Guangzhou and Zhuhai, Guangdong province.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Daily mortality and meteorology data in Guangzhou and Zhuhai were collected, and distributed lag non-linear model (DLNM) was used to evaluate the cumulative and delayed effects of daily air temperature on YLL of total non-accident mortality. The accumulative effect of air temperature on mortality under the extreme high temperature (0-1 days) and extreme low temperature (0-13 days) situation in Guangzhou and Zhuhai were analyzed respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The average YLL was 1 928.0 in Guangzhou and 202.5 in Zhuhai. The exposure-response functions seemed to be non-linear. The hot effect seemed to be acute and reached the peak at the same day, while the cold effect reached the peak at 5(th) days and lasted for about two weeks. Low temperature had stronger gross effect than high temperature had. The cold effect among males was greater than that among females in Guangzhou. The hot/cold effect on YLL was greater in people aged ≥ 65 years than in people aged < 65 years and in people suffering from respiratory disease than in people suffering from cardiovascular disease in both Guangzhou and Zhuhai.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The effects of high and low temperatures on YLL were obvious, and the impact of low temperature was greater. The elderly and people suffering from respiratory disease or cardiovascular disease are the vulnerable populations.</p>
Subject(s)
Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Air , Cardiovascular Diseases , Epidemiology , China , Epidemiology , Extreme Cold Weather , Extreme Heat , Mortality, Premature , Nonlinear Dynamics , Respiratory Tract Diseases , Epidemiology , Time FactorsABSTRACT
Introdução: Concomitante ao processo de envelhecimento populacional, estão ocorrendo mudanças climáticas, sendo a principal delas o aquecimento global. O envelhecimento leva a mudanças tanto nos mecanismos de termorregulação quanto no desempenho cognitivo. Embora inúmeros estudos tenham avaliado o efeito do calor sobre a cognição de adultos jovens, este é um tema praticamente inexplorado na população geriátrica. Objetivos: Avaliar o efeito da exposição ao calor sobre o desempenho cognitivo de idosos saudáveis e identificar fatores que expliquem as variações na susceptibilidade ao estresse térmico nesta população. Casuística e Métodos: 68 idosos com bom desempenho físico e cognitivo realizaram uma bateria de testes neuropsicológicos em duas condições ambientais: 24oC (controle) e 32oC (calor). Através de cinco testes selecionados da Bateria Neuropsicológica Automatizada de Testes de Cambridge (CANTAB), foram avaliados diferentes aspectos do desempenho cognitivo com foco principal em memória, atenção e velocidade de processamento. Um escore composto global de desempenho cognitivo foi criado usando a medida mais representativa de cada um desses testes. Antes e após cada uma das sessões de testes, foram aferidos o peso corporal, a temperatura axilar, a temperatura auricular, a frequência cardíaca e a pressão arterial. Por meio da análise de variância para medidas repetidas (ANOVA), verificou-se a interação entre o efeito da temperatura na cognição (avaliada pelo escore composto global) e características sociodemográficas (idade, sexo, educação, cor), frequência de exercício físico e umidade relativa registrada durante o protocolo de exposição ao calor. Adicionalmente, foi também desenvolvido um modelo de regressão linear multivariada a fim de identificar variáveis independentes que explicariam a susceptibilidade ao estresse pelo calor. Resultados: A idade média da amostra foi de 73,28 anos. 42,9% dos indivíduos relataram praticar atividade física quatro ou mais...
Introduction: Concomitantly to the process of population aging, major climate changes are taking place, among which global warming is regarded as the most important. Aging leads to changes in temperature control mechanisms and is associated with a subtle and progressive decline in cognitive functions. Although a great deal of studies have evaluated the effect of heat on the cognitive performance of young adults, to the best of our knowledge, no studies have directly investigated the effects of warm environments on the cognitive functioning of older adults. Objectives: To evaluate the effect of heat exposure on the cognitive performance of healthy older adults and to identify factors that would explain variations in susceptibility to heat stress in that population. Methods: 68 older adults with both good physical and cognitive performance were requested to take a series of neuropsychological tests under two environmental conditions: at 24oC and 32oC. Five tests from the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) were administered to measure different aspects of cognitive functioning while focusing on memory, attention and processing speed. A global composite score of cognitive performance was created, using the most representative measures of each one of those five tests. Before and after each session, measures of auxiliary temperature, tympanic temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, and body weight were obtained. Interaction analysis was carried out using repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) in order to check whether the effect of temperature on cognition, assessed by the global composite score, was modified by sociodemographic characteristics (age, gender, education, race), frequency of physical activity or relative humidity registered during the heat protocol. In addition, a multiple linear regression model has been fitted to identify independent variables that would explain susceptibility to heat stress Results: The mean age...
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Aged , Extreme Heat/adverse effects , Population Dynamics , Cognitive Aging/psychology , Neuropsychological Tests , Heat Stress Disorders/psychologyABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of heat wave on emergency department (ED) visits due to heat related illness, we developed an ED based active surveillance system. We want to identify epidemiology of ED visits due to heat related illness and determine the effect of heat index on daily ED visits due to heat related illness. METHODS: We developed an ED based active surveillance system for adults who visited the ED due to heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat syncope, heat edema, and heat cramp. We collected demographic and clinical variables, risk factors, and heat index by standardized registry on the webpage. We operated the surveillance into 16 emergency departments in Daegu City from June to September 2011. We analyzed epidemiologic variables descriptively and assessed the effect of heat index on the number of daily ED visits by multivariate Poisson regression analysis. RESULTS: During the study period, 34 cases were registered and nine cases were heat stroke. Heat stroke patients were older, and had more unemployment status than those with other heat related illness (p<0.05). More ED visits due to heat related illness were observed during the danger period than during the cool period, classified by heat index severity (Adjusted odds ratio: 1.72, 95% CI: 1.33-2.23). Increasing heat index by one degree caused more ED visits due to heat related illness (Adjusted incident rate ratio: 1.13, 95% CI: 1.07-1.19). CONCLUSION: We developed an ED based active surveillance system and observed more elderly persons and lower educational level in patients with heat stroke. In addition, increase in heat index significantly affected more daily ED visits due to heat related illness.