Effect of Ambient Temperature on Australian Northern Territory Public Hospital Admissions for Cardiovascular Disease among Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Populations

Leanne Webb, Hilary Bambrick, Peter Tait, Donna Green and Lisa Alexander
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Leanne Webb: Climate Change Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
Hilary Bambrick: Centre for Health Research, School of Medicine, University of Western Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2560, Australia
Peter Tait: Public Health Association of Australia, Deakin, ACT 2600, Australia
Donna Green: Climate Change Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
Lisa Alexander: Climate Change Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia

IJERPH, 2014, vol. 11, issue 2, 1-18

Abstract: Hospitalisations are associated with ambient temperature, but little is known about responses in population sub-groups. In this study, heat responses for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in two age groups were examined for two categories of cardiac diseases using daily hospital admissions from five Northern Territory hospitals (1992–2011). Admission rates during the hottest five per cent of days and the coolest five per cent of days were compared with rates at other times. Among 25–64 year olds, the Indigenous female population was more adversely affected by very hot days than the non-Indigenous female population, with admission rates for ischaemic heart disease (IHD) increasing by 32%. People older than 65 were more sensitive to cold, with non-Indigenous male admissions for heart failure increasing by 64%, and for IHD by 29%. For older Indigenous males, IHD admissions increased by 52% during cold conditions. For older non-Indigenous females, increases in admissions for heart failure were around 50% on these cold days, and 64% for older Indigenous females. We conclude that under projected climate change conditions, admissions for IHD amongst younger Indigenous people would increase in hot conditions, while admissions among elderly people during cold weather may be reduced. The responses to temperature, while showing significant relationships across the Northern Territory, may vary by region. These variations were not explored in this assessment.

Keywords: Indigenous health; hospital admissions; climate; ambient temperature; cardiovascular disease; Australia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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