Effects of temperature and air pollutants on cardiovascular and respiratory diseases for males and females older than 65 years of age in Tokyo, July and August 1980-1995

Abstract

We studied exposures to higher daily maximum temperatures and concentrations of air pollutants in Tokyo during the summer months of July and August from 1980 to 1995 and their effects on hospital emergency transports for cardiovascular and respiratory diseases for males and females > 65 years of age. Cardiovascular diseases were angina, cardiac insufficiency, hypertension, and myocardial infarction. Respiratory diseases were asthma, acute and chronic bronchitis, and pneumonia. Except for pneumonia, daily maximum temperatures were not associated with hospital emergency transports. Increasing daily maximum temperatures, however, were associated with decreased hospital emergency transports for hypertension. Concentrations of nitrogen dioxide or particulate matter < or = 10 microm, however, were associated with daily hospital emergency transports for angina, cardiac insufficiency, myocardial infarction, asthma, acute and chronic bronchitis, and pneumonia. For cardiac insufficiency, hypertension, myocardial infarction, asthma, chronic bronchitis, and pneumonia, the expected daily number of emergency transports per million were greater for males than for females. For angina and acute bronchitis, there were no differences for the expected daily numbers of emergency transports per million between males and females.