Between Extremes: Health Effects of Heat and Cold

Seltenrich, Nate

doi:10.1289/ehp.123-a275

Cited by 71 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…Studies of temperature and mortality across many regions have demonstrated substantial epidemiologic evidence of increased risk of mortality from high or low ambient temperatures or extreme temperature events such as heat waves (Hajat and Kosatky 2010, Gasparrini et al 2015, Ryti et al 2016. Moreover, extreme weather events such as heat waves or droughts are expected to be more frequent and intense under climate change, with significant associated health impacts (McMichael et al 2006, Gershunov et al 2013, Seltenrich 2015.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Temperature-related mortality: a systematic review and investigation of effect modifiers

Son

Liu

Bell

2019

Environ. Res. Lett.

168

125

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Background: Understanding which populations are vulnerable and which factors affect vulnerability to temperature-mortality associations is important to reduce the health burden from current day weather extremes and climate change. Objectives: We reviewed population-based studies on the impact of temperature on mortality and assessed the vulnerability to temperature-mortality associations systematically. Methods: We identified 207 studies published between 1980 and 2017 and summarized findings on effect modification based on individual-and community-level characteristics. Results: In our assessment of vulnerability to temperature-mortality associations, we found strong evidence of effect modification for several individual-level factors such as age and sex. We also found limited or suggestive evidence for other individual-level factors such as education, place of death, occupation, race, marital status, and chronic conditions. Evidence on effect modification by community-level characteristics for temperature-mortality associations is limited. We found weak evidence of effect modification for population density, heating system, healthcare facilities, proximity to water, housing quality, and air pollution level. We found limited or suggestive evidence for community-level socio-economic status, latitude, urban/rural, air conditioning, climatic condition, green space, and previous winter mortality. Conclusions: Our findings provide scientific evidence on which populations could be targeted for establishing appropriate strategies to reduce the health burden from extreme temperatures, and for policies on climate change.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Temperature-related mortality: a systematic review and investigation of effect modifiers

Son

Liu

Bell

2019

Environ. Res. Lett.

168

125

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“…Low ambient temperatures are associated with adverse health effects such as hypothermia and higher risk of cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases and infectious diseases globally [1][2][3][4][5]. The elderly, people with illnesses and outdoor workers are more vulnerable during conditions of extreme temperatures [3].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The elderly, people with illnesses and outdoor workers are more vulnerable during conditions of extreme temperatures [3]. In warmer regions, although winters may be considered milder than in colder regions, due to the less appropriate housing design for low temperatures and acclimatization [4], effects of unusual low temperature might increase mortality and morbidity. Previous studies have shown that populations residing in lower latitudes were more vulnerable to cold temperature [5] and had higher threshold temperatures at which cold effects began to be observed [1].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Previous studies have shown that populations residing in lower latitudes were more vulnerable to cold temperature [5] and had higher threshold temperatures at which cold effects began to be observed [1]. Adverse health effects related to low temperatures and cold waves have been reported in subtropical regions including Hong Kong, Guangzhou, China, Taiwan and Brisbane, Australia [4,[6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Personal Cold Protection Behaviour and Its Associated Factors in 2016/17 Cold Days in Hong Kong: A Two-Year Cohort Telephone Survey Study

Lam

Huang

Liu

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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Background: Despite larger health burdens attributed to cold than heat, few studies have examined personal cold protection behaviours (PCPB). This study examined PCPB during cold waves and identified the associated factors in a subtropical city for those without central heating system. Methods: A cohort telephone survey was conducted in Hong Kong during a colder cold wave (2016) and a warmer cold wave (2017) among adults (≥15). Socio-demographic information, risk perception, self-reported adverse health effects and patterns of PCPB during cold waves were collected. Associated factors of PCPB in 2017 were identified using multiple logistic regression. Results: The cohort included 429 subjects. PCPB uptake rates were higher during the colder cold wave (p < 0.0005) except for ensuring indoor ventilation. Of the vulnerable groups, 63.7% had low self-perceived health risks. High risk perception, experience of adverse health effects during the 2016 cold wave, females and older groups were positive associated factors of PCPB in 2017 (p < 0.05). Conclusions: PCPB changed with self-risk perception. However vulnerable groups commonly underestimated their own risk. Indoor ventilation may be a concern during cold days in settings that are less prepared for cold weather. Targeted awareness-raising promotion for vulnerable groups and practical strategies for ensuring indoor ventilation are needed.

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“…A heat wave (HW) leads to physiological stress, which sometimes can claim a human life [1]. Physiologically, whenever the environmental temperature increases above 37 • C along with high humidity the human body starts gaining heat from the atmosphere leading to heat illness [2]. In India the definition of HW varies across the geographical areas with different possible ranges of temperature [3].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vulnerability and Adaptation to Extreme Heat in Odisha, India: A Community Based Comparative Study

Swain

Bhattacharya

Dutta

et al. 2019

IJERPH

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Background: Extreme heat and heat illness are becoming very frequent in India. We aimed to identify the factors associated with heat illness and the coping practices among city dwellers of Odisha, India during the summer. Methods: A cross-sectional study included 766 households (HHs) in twin cities of Odisha covering a population of 1099 (slum: 404 and non-slum: 695) in the year 2017. We collected information on sociodemographic, household characteristics, coping practices to heat and the heat illness history reported during the summer. Multivariate logistic regression accounting for clustering effects at the household and slum levels was used to identify the associated factors of heat illness after adjustment of other variables. Result: Nearly, 49% of the study participants were female and the mean age was 38.36 years (95% confidence interval (CI): 37.33-39.39 years). A significant difference of living environment was seen across the groups. More than two-thirds of the study participants at least once had heat illness. In the non-slum population, males (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 3.56; 95% CI: 2.39-5.29), persons under medication (aOR: 3.09; 95% CI: 1.15-8.29), and chronic conditions had higher association with heat illness. Whereas, in the slum population, having a kitchen outside the home (aOR: 1.63; 95% CI: 1.02-3.96) and persons with chronic conditions were positively associated with heat illness. Use of cooling practices in slum areas reduced the risk of heat illness by 60%. Conclusion: Heat illness is associated with the living environment and physical health of the individuals. Identifying the vulnerable population and scaling up adaptive practices can strengthen the public health preparedness.

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Between Extremes: Health Effects of Heat and Cold

Cited by 71 publications

References 46 publications

Temperature-related mortality: a systematic review and investigation of effect modifiers

Temperature-related mortality: a systematic review and investigation of effect modifiers

Personal Cold Protection Behaviour and Its Associated Factors in 2016/17 Cold Days in Hong Kong: A Two-Year Cohort Telephone Survey Study

Vulnerability and Adaptation to Extreme Heat in Odisha, India: A Community Based Comparative Study

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