Department of Emergency Medicine, University of North Carolina, 100 Market Street, Chapel Hill, NC 27516, USA.
J Community Health. 2012 Apr;37(2):495-500. doi: 10.1007/s10900-011-9469-0.
Timely public health interventions reduce heat-related illnesses (HRIs). HRI emergency department (ED) visit data provide near real-time morbidity information to local and state public health practitioners and may be useful in directing HRI prevention efforts. This study examined statewide HRI ED visits in North Carolina (NC) from 2008-2010 by age group, month, ED disposition, chief complaint, and triage notes. The mean number of HRI ED visits per day was compared to the maximum daily temperature. The percentage of HRI ED visits to all ED visits was highest in June (0.25%). 15-18 year-olds had the highest percentage of HRI visits and were often seen for sports-related heat exposures. Work-related HRI ED visits were more common than other causes in 19-45 year-olds. Individuals ≥65 years were more likely admitted to the hospital than younger individuals. The mean daily number of HRI ED visits increased by 1.4 for each 1°F (degree Fahrenheit) increase from 90°F to 98°F and by 15.8 for each 1°F increase from 98°F to 100°F. Results indicate that HRI prevention efforts in NC should be emphasized in early summer and targeted to adolescents involved in organized sports, young adults with outdoor occupations, and seniors. At a maximum daily temperature of 98°F, there was a substantial increase in the average daily number of HRI ED visits. ED visit data provide timely, sentinel HRI information. Analysis of this near real-time morbidity data may assist local and state public health practitioners in identification of HRI prevention strategies that are especially relevant to their jurisdictions.
及时的公共卫生干预措施可减少与热有关的疾病（HRI）。HRI 急诊（ED）就诊数据为当地和州公共卫生从业人员提供了近乎实时的发病信息，并且可能有助于指导 HRI 预防工作。本研究通过年龄组、月份、ED 处置、主要投诉和分诊说明，检查了北卡罗来纳州（NC） 2008-2010 年的全州范围内 HRI ED 就诊情况。将每天 HRI ED 就诊的平均数量与最高日温度进行了比较。HRI ED 就诊占所有 ED 就诊的百分比在 6 月最高（0.25%）。15-18 岁人群 HRI 就诊的百分比最高，并且经常因与运动有关的热暴露而就诊。19-45 岁人群中与工作有关的 HRI ED 就诊比其他原因更为常见。与年轻个体相比，≥65 岁个体更有可能住院。每天 HRI ED 就诊的平均数量每增加 1°F（华氏度），从 90°F 增加到 98°F，就会增加 1.4，从 98°F 增加到 100°F，就会增加 15.8。结果表明，北卡罗来纳州的 HRI 预防工作应在初夏加强，并针对参与有组织运动的青少年、从事户外职业的年轻人和老年人。在最高日温度为 98°F 时，HRI ED 就诊的平均日数量会大幅增加。ED 就诊数据提供了及时的、监测性的 HRI 信息。对这种近乎实时的发病数据进行分析，可以帮助当地和州公共卫生从业人员确定与他们的管辖范围特别相关的 HRI 预防策略。
