Heat and hospitalization risks among people with disabilities in South Korea

Jinah Park, Ayoung Kim, Ziyad Al-Aly, Kristi L. Ebi, Ho Kim () and Whanhee Lee ()
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Jinah Park: Seoul National University
Ayoung Kim: Seoul National University
Ziyad Al-Aly: VA Saint Louis Health Care System
Kristi L. Ebi: University of Washington
Ho Kim: Seoul National University
Whanhee Lee: Pusan National University

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Heat is known to have harmful impacts on health; however, little is known about its impact on people with disabilities. We evaluate the association between heat and hospitalization through the emergency department among people with and without disabilities. We adopt a case-crossover design using 16 years (2006–2021) of claims data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service Database. A total of 584,743 admissions are recorded among people with disabilities. The heat risk (odds ratio) is 1.10 (95% confidence interval: 1.08–1.13) in people with disabilities. The relative heat risk between people with and without disabilities is 1.33 (95% confidence interval: 1.29–1.37). Within the population with disabilities, individuals with brain lesion disorders, intellectual and mental disabilities, or living in areas with low-middle population density exhibit higher heat risks than the total people with disabilities. Here, we show evidence of different heat risks between people with and without disabilities.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-59270-8

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