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Cold Weather Conditions and Risk of Hypothermia Among People Experiencing Homelessness: Implications for Prevention Strategies

Author

Listed:
  • Paige Zhang

    (MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, 30 Bond Street, Toronto, ON M5B 1W8, Canada)

  • Kathryn Wiens

    (MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, 30 Bond Street, Toronto, ON M5B 1W8, Canada
    Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 155 College St Room 500, Toronto, ON M5T 3M7, Canada)

  • Ri Wang

    (MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, 30 Bond Street, Toronto, ON M5B 1W8, Canada)

  • Linh Luong

    (MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, 30 Bond Street, Toronto, ON M5B 1W8, Canada)

  • Donna Ansara

    (Toronto Public Health, 277 Victoria St, Toronto, ON M5B 1W2, Canada)

  • Stephanie Gower

    (Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 155 College St Room 500, Toronto, ON M5T 3M7, Canada
    Toronto Public Health, 277 Victoria St, Toronto, ON M5B 1W2, Canada)

  • Kate Bassil

    (Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 155 College St Room 500, Toronto, ON M5T 3M7, Canada
    Toronto Public Health, 277 Victoria St, Toronto, ON M5B 1W2, Canada)

  • Stephen W. Hwang

    (MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, 30 Bond Street, Toronto, ON M5B 1W8, Canada
    Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Medical Sciences Building, 1 King’s College Cir, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada)

Abstract

Hypothermia is a preventable condition that disproportionately affects individuals who experience homelessness, yet limited data exist to inform the response to cold weather. To fill this gap, we examined the association between meteorological conditions and the risk of hypothermia among homeless individuals. Hypothermic events were identified from emergency department charts and coroner’s records between 2004 and 2015 in Toronto, Canada. A time-stratified case-crossover design with conditional logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between the meteorological conditions (minimum temperature and precipitation) and the risk of hypothermia. There were 97 hypothermic events identified: 79 injuries and 18 deaths. The odds of experiencing a hypothermic event increased 1.64-fold (95% CI: 1.30–2.07) with every 5 °C decrease in the minimum daily temperature and 1.10-fold (95% CI: 1.03–1.17) with every 1 mm increase in precipitation. The risk of hypothermia among individuals experiencing homelessness increased with declining temperature; however, most cases occurred during periods of low and moderate cold stress. 72% occurred when the minimum daily temperatures were warmer than −15 °C. These findings highlight the importance of providing a seasonal cold weather response to prevent hypothermia, complemented by an alert-based response on extremely cold days.

Suggested Citation

  • Paige Zhang & Kathryn Wiens & Ri Wang & Linh Luong & Donna Ansara & Stephanie Gower & Kate Bassil & Stephen W. Hwang, 2019. "Cold Weather Conditions and Risk of Hypothermia Among People Experiencing Homelessness: Implications for Prevention Strategies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-9, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:18:p:3259-:d:264320
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kathryn Lane & Kazuhiko Ito & Sarah Johnson & Elizabeth A. Gibson & Andrew Tang & Thomas Matte, 2018. "Burden and Risk Factors for Cold-Related Illness and Death in New York City," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-11, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Awad, Mohamed Hassan & Sanchez, Mabel & Abikenari, Matthew A., 2022. "The values work of restorative ventures: The role of founders’ embodied embeddedness with at-risk social groups," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 18(C).
    2. Heather Aydin-Ghormoz & Temilayo Adeyeye & Neil Muscatiello & Seema Nayak & Sanghamitra Savadatti & Tabassum Z. Insaf, 2022. "Identifying Risk Factors for Hospitalization with Behavioral Health Disorders and Concurrent Temperature-Related Illness in New York State," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-15, December.
    3. Shinji Otani & Satomi Funaki Ishizu & Toshio Masumoto & Hiroki Amano & Youichi Kurozawa, 2021. "The Effect of Minimum and Maximum Air Temperatures in the Summer on Heat Stroke in Japan: A Time-Stratified Case-Crossover Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-12, February.
    4. Peter Paal & Mathieu Pasquier & Tomasz Darocha & Raimund Lechner & Sylweriusz Kosinski & Bernd Wallner & Ken Zafren & Hermann Brugger, 2022. "Accidental Hypothermia: 2021 Update," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-25, January.

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