Population vulnerability to heat: A case-crossover analysis of heat health alerts and hospital morbidity data in Victoria, Australia.
Aust N Z J Public Health
; 47(6): 100092, 2023 Dec.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-37852815
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
From 2010 to 2022, the Victorian Department of Health operated a heat health alert system. We explored whether changes to morbidity occurred during or directly after these alerts, and how this differed for certain population groups.METHODS:
We used a space-time-stratified case-crossover design and conditional logistic regression to examine the associations between heat health alerts and heat-related and all-cause emergency department (ED) presentations and hospital admissions at the state-wide level, with models created for the whole population and subgroups. Data were included for the warm season (November-March) from 2014 to 2021.RESULTS:
Increases occurred in heat-related ED presentations (OR 1.73, 95% CI 1.53-1.96) and heat-related hospital admissions (OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.16-1.30) on days on or after heat health alerts. Effect sizes were largest for those 65 years and older, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and those living in the most disadvantaged areas.CONCLUSIONS:
We confirm that increases in morbidity occurred in Victoria during heat health alerts and describe which population groups are more likely to require healthcare in a hospital. IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH These findings can inform responses before and during periods of extreme heat, data-driven adaptation strategies, and the development of heat health surveillance systems.Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Calor Extremo
/
Aborigenas Australianos e Isleños del Estrecho de Torres
Límite:
Humans
País/Región como asunto:
Oceania
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Aust N Z J Public Health
Asunto de la revista:
SAUDE PUBLICA
Año:
2023
Tipo del documento:
Article