School of Public Health and Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD 4059, Australia.
Occup Environ Med. 2012 Mar;69(3):163-9. doi: 10.1136/oem.2010.062141. Epub 2011 Jun 30.
Heatwaves can have significant health consequences resulting in increased mortality and morbidity. However, their impact on people living in tropical/subtropical regions remains largely unknown. This study assessed the impact of heatwaves on mortality and emergency hospital admissions (EHAs) from non-external causes (NEC) in Brisbane, a subtropical city in Australia.
We acquired daily data on weather, air pollution and EHAs for patients aged 15 years and over in Brisbane between January 1996 and December 2005, and on mortality between January 1996 and November 2004. A locally derived definition of heatwave (daily maximum ≥37°C for 2 or more consecutive days) was adopted. Case-crossover analyses were used to assess the impact of heatwaves on cause-specific mortality and EHAs.
During heatwaves, there was a statistically significant increase in NEC mortality (OR 1.46; 95% CI 1.21 to 1.77), cardiovascular mortality (OR 1.89; 95% CI 1.44 to 2.48), diabetes mortality in those aged 75+ (OR 9.96; 95% CI 1.02 to 96.85), NEC EHAs (OR 1.15; 95% CI 1.07 to 1.23) and EHAs from renal diseases (OR 1.41; 95% CI 1.09 to 1.83). The elderly were found to be particularly vulnerable to heatwaves (eg, for NEC EHAs, OR 1.24 for 65-74-year-olds and 1.39 for those aged 75+).
Significant increases in NEC mortality and EHAs were observed during heatwaves in Brisbane where people are well accustomed to hot summer weather. The most vulnerable were the elderly and people with cardiovascular, renal or diabetic disease.
热浪可能对健康造成重大影响，导致死亡率和发病率上升。然而，它们对生活在热带/亚热带地区的人的影响在很大程度上仍不清楚。本研究评估了热浪对澳大利亚布里斯班非外部原因（NEC）死亡率和急诊入院（EHAs）的影响，布里斯班是一个亚热带城市。
我们获取了 1996 年 1 月至 2005 年 12 月期间布里斯班 15 岁及以上患者的天气、空气污染和 EHAs 的每日数据，以及 1996 年 1 月至 2004 年 11 月期间的死亡率数据。采用当地定义的热浪（每日最高温度≥37°C 持续 2 天或以上）。病例交叉分析用于评估热浪对特定原因死亡率和 EHAs 的影响。
热浪期间，NEC 死亡率（OR 1.46；95%CI 1.21 至 1.77）、心血管死亡率（OR 1.89；95%CI 1.44 至 2.48）、75 岁以上糖尿病死亡率（OR 9.96；95%CI 1.02 至 96.85）、NEC EHAs（OR 1.15；95%CI 1.07 至 1.23）和肾脏疾病 EHAs（OR 1.41；95%CI 1.09 至 1.83）均呈统计学显著增加。老年人发现对热浪特别脆弱（例如，对于 NEC EHAs，65-74 岁人群的 OR 为 1.24，75 岁以上人群的 OR 为 1.39）。
在布里斯班，人们已经习惯了炎热的夏季天气，热浪期间 NEC 死亡率和 EHAs 显著增加。最脆弱的是老年人以及患有心血管、肾脏或糖尿病疾病的人。
