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Observational Study
. 2018 Dec;97(52):e13815.
doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000013815.

The impact of a heat wave on mortality in the emergency department

Nese Colak Oray  1 , Deniz Oray  2 , Ersin Aksay  1 , Ridvan Atilla  1 , Basak Bayram  1
Affiliations
Observational Study

The impact of a heat wave on mortality in the emergency department

Nese Colak Oray et al. Medicine (Baltimore). 2018 Dec.

Abstract

Extreme heat wave increases the number of emergency department (ED) admissions and mortality rates. The purpose of our study is to investigate the effects of the heat wave experienced in Izmir province of Turkey on mortality.During a 9-day period between 17th and 25th June 2016 (study period), air temperature values were higher than the seasonal norms in Izmir, Turkey. In this cross-sectional study, nontraumatic admissions and in-hospital mortality rates were compared this historical interval of the extreme heat wave with the same period of the previous year and the other 21 days of June 2016.The average air temperature between 17th and 25th June 2016, was higher than the average air temperature of the previous year's same period and the average air temperature from the other 21 days of June 2016 (27.8 ± 3.6 °C, (24.5 ± 1.9°C, 24.1 ± 2.1°C, respectively) (P <.01)During the study period, the mean number of ED visits and mortality rates were significantly higher than the previous year's same period (320 ± 30/day vs 269 ± 27/day, [P <.01], and 1.6% vs 0.7%, [P <.01]).Although the admission rate was similar between the study period and the other 21 days of June 2016 (320 ± 30/day vs 310 ± 32/ day, [P = .445]); in-hospital mortality rate was significantly higher during study period (1.6% vs 0.7%, [P <.01]).During the extreme heat waves, ED admissions and in-hospital mortality rates are increased. Precautions should be addressed for adaptation of people to extreme hot weather.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Numbers of patients presenting to the ED and numbers of deaths in June 2015 and 2016. ED = emergency department.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Numbers of deaths per day and maximum temperatures during June 2016.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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