COVID-19 pandemic modifies temperature and heat-related illness ambulance transport association in Japan: a nationwide observational study

Seposo, Xerxes; Madaniyazi, Lina; Ng, Chris Fook Sheng; Hashizume, Masahiro; Honda, Yasushi

doi:10.1186/s12940-021-00808-w

Cited by 11 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…In September, as the Korean government implemented the level 2.5 and level 2 social distancing measures, the number of patients with heat-related illnesses decreased by approximately half. Similarly, in Japan, reduction in ambulance transport due to heat-related illnesses have reported as well 44 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Analysis of compound health impacts of heatwave and COVID-19 in Korea from May to September in 2020

Park,

Lee,

Kim

et al. 2023

Sci Rep

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The number of non-accidental deaths and heat-related illnesses due to the co-occurrence of heatwaves and COVID-19 has been identified to estimate compound health impacts between two risks. We have analyzed data from historical years (2013–2019) to calculate the baseline values of the number of non-accidental deaths and heat-related illness patients from May to September using a quasi-Poisson generalized linear model and compared them to data from 2020 in Korea. We also assessed the relative risk and absolute cumulative number of non-accidental deaths and heat-related illnesses in the summer of 2020 in Seoul, Daegu, and Gyeongnam region of Korea. In the Summer of 2020, Korea experienced 0.8% of non-accidental excess deaths, with the highest in August, and 46% of reduction was observed in heat-related throughout the study period, except in Daegu, where excess of heat-related illness occurred in August. The relative risk (RR) of non-accidental deaths at 33.1 °C, was 1.00 (CI 0.99–1.01) and 1.04 (CI 1.02–1.07) in 2013–2019 and 2020, respectively. The RR of heat-related illness at 33.1 °C, was 1.44 (CI 1.42–1.45) and 1.59 (CI 1.54–1.64) in 2013–2019 and 2020, respectively. The absolute cumulative trends of non-accidental deaths and heat-related illnesses were similar in the three regions, indicating increased non-accidental deaths and decreased heat-related illnesses at similar temperatures in 2020. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the fear of infection by the virus and the limited access to healthcare services led to changes in health-seeking behaviors. These results indicate social distancing could have had adverse impacts on other health conditions. A comprehensive health risk assessment is important when facing simultaneous risks, such as heatwaves and pandemics, in the implementation of effective countermeasures.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Analysis of compound health impacts of heatwave and COVID-19 in Korea from May to September in 2020

Park,

Lee,

Kim

et al. 2023

Sci Rep

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“…Recently, as a result of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, increasingly more time has been spent at home. In Japan, the time people spend indoors increased by 13.8% from before the COVID-19 pandemic [ 43 ]. There is growing concern regarding indoor air quality (IAQ) worldwide, with some studies suggesting that IAQ worsens with increased time at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic [ 44 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is indoor environment a risk factor of building-related symptoms?

et al. 2023

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The indoor environment, particularly indoor air quality (IAQ), is significantly associated with building-related symptoms (BRSs) in humans. In our previous studies, we demonstrated a significant relationship between BRSs and indoor chemical concentrations. In Japan, the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare (MHLW) guideline recommends an air quality target of 13 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and a provisional target of 400 μg/m3 for total VOCs (TVOC). The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between TVOC levels and the risk of BRSs using the Japanese provisional target TVOC level of 400 μg/m3. The relationship between odor intensity and BRSs while the TVOC levels were under 400 μg/m3 was also examined. The study was conducted in a laboratory house (LH) on the campus of Chiba University from 2017–2019. The study included 149 participants who spent 60 minutes in the LH. The participants were asked to evaluate the IAQ of the LH. A significant relationship between the risk of BRSs and the provisional target TVOC level was observed (odds ratio: 2.94, 95% confidence interval: 1.18–7.35). Furthermore, a significant relationship between odor intensity and risk of BRSs in spaces with TVOC levels less than 400 μg/m3 was detected (odds ratio: 6.06, 95% confidence interval: 1.21–30.44). In conclusion, the risk of BRSs is significantly lower in spaces with low TVOC levels and low odor intensity. Reducing the concentration of airborne chemicals and odor intensity may improve IAQ and prevent BRSs.

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“…A natural cubic spline function was applied to the temperature variable with 1 internal knot. For the lag dimension, we specified a lag period of 1 for HIAT 31 and mortality, 32 to capture possible delayed effects of heat exposure. The average of lag 0 to 1 was used.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Heat-related mortality and ambulance transport after a power outage in the Tokyo metropolitan area

Yamasaki,

Kamada,

et al. 2024

Environmental Epidemiology

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Background: Air conditioners can prevent heat-related illness and mortality, but the increased use of air conditioners may enhance susceptibility to heat-related illnesses during large-scale power failures. Here, we examined the risks of heat-related illness ambulance transport (HIAT) and mortality associated with typhoon-related electricity reduction (ER) in the summer months in the Tokyo metropolitan area. Methods: We conducted event study analyses to compare temperature–HIAT and mortality associations before and after the power outage (July to September 2019). To better understand the role of temperature during the power outage, we then examined whether the temperature–HIAT and mortality associations were modified by different power outage levels (0%, 10%, and 20% ER). We computed the ratios of relative risks to compare the risks associated with various ER values to the risks associated without ER. Results: We analyzed the data of 14,912 HIAT cases and 74,064 deaths. Overall, 93,200 power outage cases were observed when the typhoon hit. Event study results showed that the incidence rate ratio was 2.01 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.42, 2.84) with effects enduring up to 6 days, and 1.11 (95% CI = 1.02, 1.22) for mortality on the first 3 days after the typhoon hit. Comparing 20% to 0% ER, the ratios of relative risks of heat exposure were 2.32 (95% CI = 1.41, 3.82) for HIAT and 0.95 (95% CI = 0.75, 1.22) for mortality. Conclusions: A 20% ER was associated with a two-fold greater risk of HIAT because of summer heat during the power outage, but there was little evidence for the association with all-cause mortality.

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COVID-19 pandemic modifies temperature and heat-related illness ambulance transport association in Japan: a nationwide observational study

Cited by 11 publications

References 42 publications

Analysis of compound health impacts of heatwave and COVID-19 in Korea from May to September in 2020

Analysis of compound health impacts of heatwave and COVID-19 in Korea from May to September in 2020

Is indoor environment a risk factor of building-related symptoms?

Heat-related mortality and ambulance transport after a power outage in the Tokyo metropolitan area

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