Bai H, Islam M N, Kuroki H, Honda K, Wakasugi C
Department of Legal Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Japan.
Nihon Hoigaku Zasshi. 1995 Aug;49(4):265-74.
The summer of 1994 was unusually hot and dry in Japan, setting a record for high temperature and low rainfall in many areas. The daily record of temperature of July and August which were announced by Osaka District Meteorological Observatory exceeded the past ones. The daily recorded temperature of 75 consecutive days in Osaka city was above 30 degrees C with the maximum 39.1 degrees C on 18 August 1994 and 38 degrees C on 16 July 1994. The number of unusual deaths (except traffic accidents) in Osaka Prefecture was 655 and 733 in the month of July and August respectively which exceeded the number of death for the corresponding period of the last 5 consecutive years by 1.5 folds, which was directly proportionate to the change of temperatures. This was due to the illness of the people concerned. We investigated the age, sex and rectal temperature during the inquest and compared them with those of the same period of 1992, which we kept as control. On comparing age and sex of the dead bodies, the cases of 1994 were older than those of 1992, which was due to increased number of death of female aged 70 or more. On comparing the rectal temperatures of those who were found indoors within 8 hours after death, the average temperature of 1994 was also higher than that of 1992. Between the age groups of 75 or more and 74 or younger, the rectal temperature of the former is significantly higher than those of later age group. While regarding the room temperature of the high rectal temperature (39 degrees C < or =) group, no significant difference was observed between the age groups of 75 or more and 74 or younger. In general, the number of unusual deaths in the summer of 1994 in Osaka was more compared to those of previous years. The analysis of the recorded rectal temperatures demonstrated that, 75 or older age group has a tendency to hyperthermia. Since the aging society of Japan is gradually increasing, preventive measures will be necessary when forecasting heat wave to reduce the morbidity and mortality of the aged people.
1994年夏天，日本异常炎热干燥，许多地区创下高温少雨纪录。大阪地区气象观测台公布的7月和8月每日气温记录超过了以往。大阪市连续75天的日记录温度高于30摄氏度，1994年8月18日最高温度为39.1摄氏度，1994年7月16日为38摄氏度。大阪府7月和8月的异常死亡人数（交通事故除外）分别为655人和733人，比过去连续5年同期的死亡人数高出1.5倍，与气温变化成正比。这是由于相关人员患病所致。我们在验尸过程中调查了年龄、性别和直肠温度，并将其与1992年同期的数据进行比较，1992年的数据作为对照。比较尸体的年龄和性别时，1994年的案例比1992年的案例年龄更大，这是因为70岁及以上女性的死亡人数增加。比较死后8小时内在室内发现的尸体的直肠温度，1994年的平均温度也高于1992年。在75岁及以上和74岁及以下年龄组之间，前者的直肠温度明显高于后者。而对于直肠温度较高（39摄氏度及以上）组的室温，75岁及以上和74岁及以下年龄组之间未观察到显著差异。总体而言，1994年夏天大阪的异常死亡人数比前几年更多。对记录的直肠温度分析表明，75岁及以上年龄组有体温过高的倾向。由于日本老龄化社会逐渐加剧，在预测热浪时采取预防措施以降低老年人的发病率和死亡率将是必要的。
