The effects of season and meteorology on human mortality in tropical climates: a systematic review

Abstract

Research in the field of atmospheric science and epidemiology has long recognized the health effects of seasonal and meteorological conditions. However, little scientific knowledge exists to date about the impacts of atmospheric parameters on human mortality in tropical regions. Working within the scope of this systematic review, this investigation conducted a literature search using different databases; original research articles were chosen according to pre-defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Both seasonal and meteorological effects were considered. The findings suggest that high amounts of rainfall and increasing temperatures cause a seasonal excess in infectious disease mortality and are therefore relevant in regions and populations in which such diseases are prevalent. On the contrary, moderately low and very high temperatures exercise an adverse effect on cardio-respiratory mortality and shape the mortality pattern in areas and sub-groups in which these diseases are dominant. Atmospheric effects were subject to population-specific factors such as age and socio-economic status and differed between urban and rural areas. The consequences of climate change as well as environmental, epidemiological and social change (e.g., emerging non-communicable diseases, ageing of the population, urbanization) suggest a growing relevance of heat-related excess mortality in tropical regions.

Impact of climate conditions on hospital admissions for subcategories of cardiovascular diseases

“…A huge amount of evidence has pointed to the relationship between daily variations in meteorological parameters and mortality [2]. The research conducted in Serbia has also shown heat-related mortality, especially among elderly females and Roma population [3,4].…”

Seasonal variation in child mortality in rural Guinea‐Bissau

“…A systematic review of several studies from Africa demonstrated that rainy season was associated with higher all‐cause child mortality. This was observed in the Gambia, Senegal, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania and Burkina Faso .…”

Urban Heat Island and Mitigation Technologies in Asian and Australian Cities—Impact and Mitigation

“…Different studies have collected data on the relationship between the urban heat island, its associated thermal conditions, and mortality in Asian and Australian cities. The conclusion is that the mortality rate could be exacerbated by the UHI phenomenon [23,24]. An almost linear relationship between UHI intensity and excess mortality rate was demonstrated through a study of 30 years of data in Shanghai [3].…”