Excess mortality associated with three Los Angeles September hot spells

The epidemiology of heat-related deaths, Texas--1950, 1970-79, and 1980.

“…We ascribe the lower incidence of heat-related death in recent years to the wider availability of air conditioning. 7 The differences in incidence of heat death by race may also reflect the access to air-conditioned facilities as a function of economic status. Other socioeconomic factors such as overcrowding, poor housing conditions, and jobs involving outside heavy labor probably play a part as well.…”

Public Health-Related Impacts of Climate Change inCalifornia

“…With several large metropolitan centers, California is now home to 34.5 million people (U.S. Census Bureau, 2004)-more than 200 per square mile-and its population is projected to double within the next 30 years, as well as becoming more and more urbanized. Several studies have estimated heat-related mortality for California metropolitan areas (Chestnut et al, 1998;Valimont, 1986, 1987;Kalkstein and Davis, 1989;Kalkstein, 1993;Oechsli and Buechley 1970), before using different methods with a range of theoretical foundations, including empirical observation, modeling based on temperature thresholds, heat stress indices, and synoptic methods identifying "offensive air masses." (Chestnut et al, 1998;Valimont, 1986, 1987;Kalkstein 1989Kalkstein , 1993Oechsli and Buechley 1970).…”

“…Several studies have estimated heat-related mortality for California metropolitan areas (Chestnut et al, 1998;Valimont, 1986, 1987;Kalkstein and Davis, 1989;Kalkstein, 1993;Oechsli and Buechley 1970), before using different methods with a range of theoretical foundations, including empirical observation, modeling based on temperature thresholds, heat stress indices, and synoptic methods identifying "offensive air masses." (Chestnut et al, 1998;Valimont, 1986, 1987;Kalkstein 1989Kalkstein , 1993Oechsli and Buechley 1970). Synoptic approaches have revealed that California locations historically have experienced relatively few "offensive air mass" conditions, which cause marked increases in heatrelated mortality (Kalkstein and Greene, 1997).…”

The Potential Impacts of Climate Variability and Change on Temperature-Related Morbidity and Mortality in the United States

“…Survivors of heatstroke often experience persisting organ dysfunction that is predictive of 1-year mortality (i.e., death within 1 year of an event) (14). Heat stroke mortality and heat-related mortality from all causes appear to peak with a 1-to 2-day lag following high temperatures (6,15,16). One epidemiologic study of deaths during and following a heat wave indicated that a rise in the heat index (HI) is followed by an increase in the number of deaths due to heat ( Figure 2) (6).…”