Weathernews Inc., Makuhari Techno Garden, Chiba, Japan.
Rikkyo Research Institute of Wellness, Rikkyo University, Tokyo, Japan.
PLoS One. 2022 Nov 7;17(11):e0275641. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0275641. eCollection 2022.
Heatstroke is a serious heat-related illness that can even cause death. Heat alert systems play an important role in reducing the number of patients experiencing heat illness, as they encourage preventive actions such as the use of air conditioning, hydration, or other strategies. However, to date, the Japanese hazard classification has not considered seasonal and regional variations, despite clear differences in meteorological conditions across different regions in Japan. Moreover, several studies have reported a difference in thermoregulation between older and younger adults, implying that the hazard classification should also consider age differences. This study examined the relationship between the number of ambulance dispatches related to heat illness (ADRHI) and the Japanese heat hazard classification from 2010 to 2019, focusing on monthly and regional differences. Data from 47 prefectures during the 10-year period were collected and analyzed. ADRHI and wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) data were collected from Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications and the Ministry of the Environment Heat Illness Prevention Information website, respectively. The findings showed a significant relationship between ADRHI and WBGTmax (p < 0.05, r = 0.74). ADRHI per 100,000 people showed significant differences across months. The post hoc test detected the first steep increase in ADRHI at a WBGTmax of 23°C than at 22°C in June, and at a WBGTmax of 26°C, 27°C, and 25°C in July, August, and September, respectively. Moreover, the first significant increase in ADRHI per 100,000 people at WBGTmax differed across each region, at a WBGTmax of 24°C in Hokkaido-Tohoku, 25°C in Kanto, Kansai, and Chugoku, 26°C in Chubu, 27°C in Shikoku, and 28°C in Kyushu-Okinawa. Further, Poisson regression analysis revealed that the relative risks differed across each region and month. These results imply that the hazard classification should be adjusted according to region and month in Japan.
中暑是一种严重的与热有关的疾病，甚至可能导致死亡。热警报系统在减少患热病患者数量方面发挥着重要作用，因为它们鼓励采取预防措施，例如使用空调、补水或其他策略。然而，迄今为止，日本的危害分类并未考虑季节性和区域性差异，尽管日本不同地区的气象条件存在明显差异。此外，几项研究报告了老年和年轻成年人之间体温调节的差异，这意味着危害分类还应考虑年龄差异。本研究检查了 2010 年至 2019 年期间与热相关的救护车派遣数量（ADRHI）与日本热危害分类之间的关系，重点关注月度和区域差异。在这 10 年期间，收集并分析了 47 个县的数据。ADRHI 和湿球黑球温度（WBGT）数据分别来自日本内政通信省和环境部热疾病预防信息网站。研究结果表明，ADRHI 与 WBGTmax 之间存在显著关系（p < 0.05，r = 0.74）。每 10 万人的 ADRHI 差异在各月之间存在显著差异。事后检验发现，6 月，ADRHI 在 WBGTmax 达到 23°C 时比在 22°C 时首次急剧增加，而在 7 月、8 月和 9 月，分别在 WBGTmax 达到 26°C、27°C 和 25°C 时首次急剧增加。此外，在每个地区，WBGTmax 每 10 万人的 ADRHI 首次显著增加也有所不同，在北海道-东北地区为 24°C，在关东-关西和中国地区为 25°C，在中部地区为 26°C，在四国地区为 27°C，在九州-冲绳地区为 28°C。此外，泊松回归分析显示，各地区和各月的相对风险不同。这些结果表明，日本的危害分类应根据地区和月份进行调整。
