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The value of local heatwave impact assessment: a case-crossover analysis of hospital emergency department presentations in Tasmania, Australia
Citation
Campbell, SL and Remenyi, TA and Williamson, GJ and White, CJ and Johnston, FH, The value of local heatwave impact assessment: a case-crossover analysis of hospital emergency department presentations in Tasmania, Australia, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16, (19) Article 3715. ISSN 1661-7827 (2019) [Refereed Article]
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Copyright Statement
Copyright 2019 The Author(s) Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
DOI: doi:10.3390/ijerph16193715
Abstract
Heatwaves have been identified as a threat to human health, with this impact projected to
rise in a warming climate. Gaps in local knowledge can potentially undermine appropriate policy
and preparedness actions. Using a case-crossover methodology, we examined the impact of heatwave
events on hospital emergency department (ED) presentations in the two most populous regions
of Tasmania, Australia, from 2008–2016. Using conditional logistic regression, we analyzed the
relationship between ED presentations and severe/extreme heatwaves for the whole population,
specific demographics including age, gender and socio-economic advantage, and diagnostic conditions
that are known to be impacted in high temperatures. ED presentations increased by 5% (OR 1.05,
95% CI 1.01–1.09) across the whole population, by 13% (OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.03–1.24) for children
15 years and under, and by 19% (OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.04–1.36) for children 5 years and under. A less
precise association in the same direction was found for those over 65 years. For diagnostic subgroups,
non-significant increases in ED presentations were observed for asthma, diabetes, hypertension,
and atrial fibrillation. These findings may assist ED surge capacity planning and public health
preparedness and response activities for heatwave events in Tasmania, highlighting the importance
of using local research to inform local practice.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | heat wave, health, Tasmania, extreme heat, morbidity, health effects, emergency presentation, case-crossover |
| Research Division: | Medical and Health Sciences |
| Research Group: | Public Health and Health Services |
| Research Field: | Epidemiology |
| Objective Division: | Health |
| Objective Group: | Public Health (excl. Specific Population Health) |
| Objective Field: | Health Protection and/or Disaster Response |
| UTAS Author: | Campbell, SL (Ms Sharon Campbell) |
| UTAS Author: | Remenyi, TA (Dr Tom Remenyi) |
| UTAS Author: | Williamson, GJ (Dr Grant Williamson) |
| UTAS Author: | White, CJ (Dr Chris White) |
| UTAS Author: | Johnston, FH (Associate Professor Fay Johnston) |
| ID Code: | 135144 |
| Year Published: | 2019 |
| Deposited By: | Plant Science |
| Deposited On: | 2019-10-03 |
| Last Modified: | 2019-11-12 |
| Downloads: | 5 View Download Statistics |
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