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The Effects of Heatwaves on Human Morbidity in Primary Care Settings: A Case-Crossover Study

Author

Listed:
  • Mahmoud Alsaiqali

    (Epidemiology and Social Medicine (ESOC), University of Antwerp, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium)

  • Katrien De Troeyer

    (Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium)

  • Lidia Casas

    (Epidemiology and Social Medicine (ESOC), University of Antwerp, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium)

  • Rafiq Hamdi

    (Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium, B-1180 Brussels, Belgium)

  • Christel Faes

    (Data Science Institute (DSI), I-BioStat, Hasselt University, BE-3500 Hasselt, Belgium)

  • Gijs Van Pottelbergh

    (Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium)

Abstract

Purpose: This study assesses the potential acute effects of heatwaves on human morbidities in primary care settings. Methods: We performed a time-stratified case-crossover study to assess the acute effects of heatwaves on selected morbidities in primary care settings in Flanders, Belgium, between 2000 and 2015. We used conditional logistic regression models. We assessed the effect of heatwaves on the day of the event (lag 0) and X days earlier (lags 1 to X). The associations are presented as Incidence Density Ratios (IDR). Results: We included 22,344 events. Heatwaves are associated with increased heat-related morbidities such as heat stroke IDR 3.93 [2.94–5.26] at lag 0, dehydration IDR 3.93 [2.94–5.26] at lag 1, and orthostatic hypotension IDR 2.06 [1.37–3.10] at lag 1. For cardiovascular morbidities studied, there was only an increased risk of stroke at lag 3 IDR 1.45 [1.04–2.03]. There is no significant association with myocardial ischemia/infarction or arrhythmia. Heatwaves are associated with decreased respiratory infection risk. The IDR for upper respiratory infections is 0.82 [0.78–0.87] lag 1 and lower respiratory infections (LRI) is 0.82 [0.74–0.91] at lag 1. There was no significant effect modification by age or premorbid chronic disease (diabetes, hypertesnsion). Conclusion: Heatwaves are associated with increased heat-related morbidities and decreased respiratory infection risk. The study of heatwaves’ effects in primary care settings helps evaluate the impact of heatwaves on the general population. Primary care settings might be not suitable to study acute life-threatening morbidities.

Suggested Citation

  • Mahmoud Alsaiqali & Katrien De Troeyer & Lidia Casas & Rafiq Hamdi & Christel Faes & Gijs Van Pottelbergh, 2022. "The Effects of Heatwaves on Human Morbidity in Primary Care Settings: A Case-Crossover Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(2), pages 1-10, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:2:p:832-:d:723248
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mengmeng Li & Shaohua Gu & Peng Bi & Jun Yang & Qiyong Liu, 2015. "Heat Waves and Morbidity: Current Knowledge and Further Direction-A Comprehensive Literature Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-28, May.
    2. Janine Wichmann & Zorana Jovanovic Andersen & Matthias Ketzel & Thomas Ellermann & Steffen Loft, 2011. "Apparent Temperature and Cause-Specific Mortality in Copenhagen, Denmark: A Case-Crossover Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 8(9), pages 1-16, September.
    3. Sue Smith & Alex J. Elliot & Shakoor Hajat & Angie Bone & Chris Bates & Gillian E. Smith & Sari Kovats, 2016. "The Impact of Heatwaves on Community Morbidity and Healthcare Usage: A Retrospective Observational Study Using Real-Time Syndromic Surveillance," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, January.
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    Cited by:

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