[Heat-related morbidity: real-time surveillance via rescue service operations data from the interdisciplinary care capacity proof system (IVENA)].

BACKGROUND

In addition to mortality data, hospital admission, emergency department visits, and emergency service calls data are used for the surveillance of heat-related morbidity. We report on heat-associated morbidity in Frankfurt am Main from 2014-2018 using the web-based care capacity proof system (IVENA) of the rescue service operations.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In the web-based IVENA system, all patients with prehospital emergency care are recorded in real time. The rescue service operations were evaluated in the summer months (June-August) from 2014-2018 in Frankfurt am Main as a whole and separately according to various heat-related diagnoses. The current temperature data of the Frankfurt East measuring station were obtained online as hourly values from the website of the Hessian Institute for Nature Conservation, Environment and Geology ( www.hlnug.de ). Temperature maxima ≥32 ℃ for at least 5 days were defined as a "heatwave."

RESULTS

From 2014-2018, three heatwaves occurred according to the definition above: in 2015, 2016, and 2018, with an extremely long heat period in 2018 (17 days). During the heatwave in 2015, the highest excess morbidity was noted: +17% total ambulance service operations and +198% emergency service operations due to heat-related disease disorders. The evaluation of the long heat period in 2018 showed that with increasing duration of the heat period, the emergency rescue service operations due to total heat-associated morbidity remained high with increasing emergency service operations due to exsiccosis and unclear fever.

CONCLUSION

The data obtained by the IVENA system enable a current and complete assessment of severe acute diseases in the city or in the respective rescue service area in real time. Health effects of heat events can thus be investigated in real time and the system can be used as an early warning system for prevention.