Evaluating Mortality Response Associated with Two Different Nordic Heat Warning Systems in Riga, Latvia

Kerstin Pfeifer, Daniel Oudin Åström, Žanna Martinsone, Darja Kaļužnaja and Anna Oudin
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Kerstin Pfeifer: Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 22381 Lund, Sweden
Daniel Oudin Åström: Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 22381 Lund, Sweden
Žanna Martinsone: Institute of Occupational Safety and Environmental Health, Riga Stradins University, LV-1007 Riga, Latvia
Darja Kaļužnaja: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Riga Stradins University, LV-1007 Riga, Latvia
Anna Oudin: Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 22381 Lund, Sweden

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 21, 1-10

Abstract: Background and objectives : Progressing climate change is accompanied by a worldwide increase in the intensity, frequency, and duration of heat wave events. Research has shown that heat waves are an emerging public health problem, as they have a significant impact on mortality. As studies exploring this relationship are scarce for Latvia, this study aims to investigate the short-term associations between heat waves and all-cause mortality as well as cause-specific mortality, during the summer months (May-September) in Riga. Materials and Methods : An ecological time series study using daily reported mortality and temperature data from Riga between 2009 and 2015 was employed. Heat waves were defined based on the categories of the Latvian and Swedish heat warning system. Using a Quasi-Poisson regression, the relationships between heat waves and all-cause as well as cause-specific mortality were investigated. Results : Heat waves in Riga were associated with a 10% to 20% increase in the risk of all-cause mortality, depending on the applied heat wave definition, compared to days with normal temperature. In addition, heat-related mortality was found to increase significantly in the ≥65 age group between 12% and 22% during heat waves. In terms of cause-specific mortality, a significant increase of approximately 15% to 26% was observed for cardiovascular mortality. No significant associations were found between heat waves and respiratory or external causes of mortality. Conclusion : These results indicate that there are short-term associations between heat waves and all-cause as well as cardiovascular mortality in Riga and that heat waves therefore represent a public health problem in this Baltic city.

Keywords: heat waves; mortality; heat warning systems; Latvia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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