Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress 2023 EHA Congress 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

A round-up of the ONWARDS phase 3 clinical trials evaluating the novel weekly insulin icodec in people with diabetes.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2013

Open Access 01-12-2013 | Research article

Health impacts of the July 2010 heat wave in Québec, Canada

Authors: Ray Bustinza, Germain Lebel, Pierre Gosselin, Diane Bélanger, Fateh Chebana

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2013

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

One of the consequences of climate change is the increased frequency and intensity of heat waves which can cause serious health impacts. In Québec, July 2010 was marked by an unprecedented heat wave in recent history. The purpose of this study is to estimate certain health impacts of this heat wave.

Methods

The crude daily death and emergency department admission rates during the heat wave were analyzed in relation to comparison periods using 95% confidence intervals.

Results

During the heat wave, the crude daily rates showed a significant increase of 33% for deaths and 4% for emergency department admissions in relation to comparison periods. No displacement of mortality was observed over a 60-day horizon.

Conclusions

The all-cause death indicator seems to be sufficiently sensitive and specific for surveillance of exceedences of critical temperature thresholds, which makes it useful for a heat health-watch system. Many public health actions combined with the increased use of air conditioning in recent decades have contributed to a marked reduction in mortality during heat waves. However, an important residual risk remains, which needs to be more vigorously addressed by public health authorities in light of the expected increase in the frequency and severity of heat waves and the aging of the population.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Literature
1.
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change: Special report on managing the risks of extreme events and disasters to advance climate change adaptation: summary for policymakers. 2012, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, 19-
2.
Chaouki N: Climate Change & Health. 2009, World Health Organisation, Rabat, 34-
3.
Knowlton K, Rotkin-Ellman M, King G, Margolis HG, Smith D, Solomon G, Trent R, English P: The 2006 California heat wave: impacts on hospitalizations and emergency department visits. Environ Health Perspect. 2009, 117: 61-67.CrossRefPubMed
4.
5.
Martel B, Giroux J-X, Gosselin P, Chebana F, Ouarda TBMJ, Charron C: Indicateurs et seuils météorologiques pour les systèmes de veille-avertissement lors de vagues de chaleur au Québec. 2010, Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Québec, 65-
6.
7.
Chebana F, Martel B, Gosselin P, Giroux JX, Ouarda TB: A general and flexible methodology to define thresholds for heat health watch and warning systems, applied to the province of Quebec (Canada). Int J Biometeorol. 2012, Epub ahead of print
8.
Besancenot J: Vagues de chaleur et mortalité dans les grandes agglomérations urbaines. Environnement, risques & santé. 2002, 1: 229-240.
9.
Curriero FC, Heiner KS, Samet JM, Zeger SL, Strug L, Patz JA: Temperature and mortality in 11 cities of the eastern United States. Am J Epidemiol. 2002, 155: 80-87. 10.1093/aje/155.1.80.CrossRefPubMed
10.
Kunst AE, Looman CWN, Mackenbach JP: Outdoor air temperature and mortality in the Netherlands: a time-series analysis. Am J Epidemiol. 1993, 137: 331-341.PubMed
11.
Whitman S, Good G, Donoghue ER, Benbow N, Shou W, Mou S: Mortality in Chicago attributed to the July 1995 heat wave. Am J Public Health. 1997, 87: 1515-1518. 10.2105/AJPH.87.9.1515.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
12.
Ledrans M, Isnard H: Impact sanitaire de la vague de chaleur d'août 2003 en France: bilan et perspectives, octobre 2003. 2003, InVS, Saint-Maurice, France, 120-
13.
Rothman KJ, Greenland S, Lash TL: Modern Epidemiology. 2008, Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, PA
14.
Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Groupe de travail des indicateurs du Plan commun de surveillance à l'Infocentre de santé publique: Cadre méthodologique des indicateurs du Plan commun de surveillance à l'Infocentre de santé publique. 2009, Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Québec, 79-
15.
Anderson BG, Bell ML: Weather-related mortality: how heat, cold, and heat waves affect mortality in the United States. Epidemiology. 2009, 20: 205-213. 10.1097/EDE.0b013e318190ee08.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
16.
Basagana X, Sartini C, Barrera-Gomez J, Dadvand P, Cunillera J, Ostro B, Sunyer J, Medina-Ramon M: Heat waves and cause-specific mortality at all ages. Epidemiology. 2011, 22: 765-772. 10.1097/EDE.0b013e31823031c5.CrossRefPubMed
17.
18.
LeTertre A, Lefranc A, Eilstein D, Declercq C, Medina S, Blanchard M, Chardon B, Fabre P, Filleul L, Jusot JF, et al: Impact of the 2003 heatwave on all-cause mortality in 9 French cities. Epidemiology. 2006, 17: 75-79. 10.1097/01.ede.0000187650.36636.1f.CrossRef
19.
DIppoliti D, Michelozzi P, Marino C, De'Donato F, Menne B, Katsouyanni K, Kirchmayer U, Analitis A, Medina-Ramon M, Paldy A, et al: The impact of heat waves on mortality in 9 European cities: results from the EuroHEAT project. Environ Health. 2010, 9: 37-10.1186/1476-069X-9-37.CrossRef
20.
Litvak E, Fortier I, Gouillou M, Jehanno A, Kosatsky T: Programme de vigie et de prévention des effets de la chaleur accablante à Montréal: définition épidémiologique des seuils d'alerte et de mobilisation pour Montréal. 2005, Direction de santé publique, Agence de développement de réseaux locaux de services de santé et de services sociaux de Montréal, Montréal, 34-
21.
Laplante L, Roman S: Guide d'intervention: chaleur accablante volet santé publique. Edited by: Laplante L, Roman S. 2006, Comité chaleur accablante de la TNCSE, Québec, 168-
22.
Kovats RS, Hajat S: Heat stress and public health: a critical review. Annu Rev Public Health. 2008, 29: 41-55. 10.1146/annurev.publhealth.29.020907.090843.CrossRefPubMed
23.
Hydro-Québec: Utilisation de l'électricité dans le marché résidentiel. Rapport interne, septembre 2010. 2010, Hydro-Québec, Montréal, 37-
24.
Gosselin P, Bélanger D, Doyon B: Health impacts of climate change. Human Health in a Changing Climate. Edited by: Séguin J. 2008, Health Canada, Ottawa, 211-302.
25.
Bélanger D, Gosselin P, Valois P, Abdous B: Vagues de chaleur au Québec méridional: adaptations actuelles et suggestions d'adaptation futures. 2006, Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Québec, 218-
26.
Hoffmann B, Hertel S, Boes T, Weiland D, Jockel KH: Increased cause-specific mortality associated with 2003 heat wave in Essen, Germany. J Toxicol Environ Health A. 2008, 71: 759-765. 10.1080/15287390801985539.CrossRefPubMed
27.
Luber G, McGeehin M: Climate change and extreme heat events. AM J Prev Med. 2008, 35: 429-435. 10.1016/j.amepre.2008.08.021.CrossRefPubMed
28.
Haines A, Kovats RS, Campbell-Lendrum D, Corvalan C: Climate change and human health: Impacts, vulnerability and public health. Public Health. 2006, 120: 585-596. 10.1016/j.puhe.2006.01.002.CrossRefPubMed
29.
Ramlow JM, Kuller LH: Effects of the summer heat wave of 1988 on daily mortality in Allegheny County. PA. Public Health Rep. 1990, 105: 283-289.PubMed
30.
McGeehin MA, Mirabelli M: Potential impacts of climate variability and change on temperature-related morbidity and mortality in the United States. Environ Health Perspect. 2001, 109: 185-189.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
31.
Lorente C, Sérazin C, Salines G, Adonias G, Gourvellec G, Lauzeille D, Malon A, Rivière S: Étude des facteurs de risque de décès des personnes âgées résidant en établissement durant la vague de chaleur d'août 2003. Edited by: Lorente C, Sérazin C, Salines G, Adonias G, Gourvellec G, Lauzeille D, Malon A, Rivière S. 2005, Institut de Veille Sanitaire, Saint-Maurice, France, 114-
32.
Semenza JC, Rubin CH, Falter KH, Selanikio JD, Flanders WD, Howe HL, Wilhelm JL: Heat-related deaths during the July 1995 heat wave in Chicago. N Engl J Med. 1996, 335: 84-90. 10.1056/NEJM199607113350203.CrossRefPubMed
33.
Semenza JC, McCullough JE, Flanders WD, McGeehin MA, Lumpkin JR: Excess hospital admissions during the July 1995 heat wave in Chicago. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 1999, 16: 269-277. 10.1016/S0749-3797(99)00025-2.CrossRefPubMed
34.
35.
Auger N, Kosatsky T: Chaleur accablante. Mise à jour de la littérature concernant les impacts de santé publique et proposition de mesures d'adaptation. 2002, Régie régionale de la santé et des services sociaux de Montréal-Centre, 35-
36.
Baccini M, Biggeri A, Accetta G, Kosatsky T, Katsouyanni K, Analitis A, Anderson HR, Bisanti L, D'Ippoliti D, Danova J, et al: Heat effects on mortality in 15 European cities. Epidemiology. 2008, 19: 711-719. 10.1097/EDE.0b013e318176bfcd.CrossRefPubMed
37.
Hajat S, Armstrong BG, Gouveia N, Wilkinson P: Mortality displacement of heat-related deaths: a comparison of Delhi, Sao Paulo, and London. Epidemiology. 2005, 16: 613-620. 10.1097/01.ede.0000164559.41092.2a.CrossRefPubMed
38.
Le Tertre A, Lefranc A, Eilstein D, Declercq C, Medina S, Blanchard M, Chardon B, Fabre P, Filleul L, Jusot JF, et al: Impact of the 2003 heatwave on all-cause mortality in 9 French cities. Epidemiology. 2006, 17: 75-79. 10.1097/01.ede.0000187650.36636.1f.CrossRefPubMed
39.
Huynen MM, Martens P, Schram D, Weijenberg MP, Kunst AE: The impact of heat waves and cold spells on mortality rates in the Dutch population. Environ Health Perspect. 2001, 109: 463-470. 10.1289/ehp.01109463.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
40.
Basu R: High ambient temperature and mortality: a review of epidemiologic studies from 2001 to 2008. Environ Health. 2009, 8: 40-10.1186/1476-069X-8-40.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
41.
Applegate WB, Runyan JW, Brasfield L, Williams ML, Konigsberg C, Fouche C: Analysis of the 1980 heat wave in Memphis. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1981, 29: 337-342.CrossRefPubMed
42.
Ballester F, Corella D, Perez-Hoyos S, Saez M, Hervas A: Mortality as a function of temperature. A study in Valencia, Spain, 1991–1993. Int J Epidemiol. 1997, 26: 551-561. 10.1093/ije/26.3.551.CrossRefPubMed
43.
Institut de Veille Sanitaire: Impact sanitaire de la vague de chaleur en France survenue en août 2003. 2003, Institut de Veille Sanitaire, Saint-Maurice, France, 75-
44.
Etchevers A, Sarter H, Laaidi K, Empereur-Bissonnet P: Impact sanitaire de la vague de chaleur du mois du juin 2005. BEH. 2006, 19–20: 138-140.
45.
Hajat S, Kovats RS, Atkinson RW, Haines A: Impact of hot temperature on death in London: a time series approach. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2002, 56: 367-372. 10.1136/jech.56.5.367.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
46.
Toutant S, Gosselin P, Bélanger D, Bustinza R, Rivest S: An open source web application for the surveillance and prevention of the impacts on public health of extreme meteorological events: the SUPREME system. Int J Health Geogr. 2011, 10: 39-10.1186/1476-072X-10-39.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
47.
Bustinza R, Toutant S, Bélanger D, Gosselin P: Outil de vigie et surveillance des vagues de chaleur. BISE. 2011, Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Québec
Metadata
Title
Health impacts of the July 2010 heat wave in Québec, Canada
Authors
Ray Bustinza
Germain Lebel
Pierre Gosselin
Diane Bélanger
Fateh Chebana
Publication date
01-12-2013
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2013
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-13-56

Other articles of this Issue 1/2013

BMC Public Health 1/2013 Go to the issue

Research article

Methods to increase participation in organised screening programs: a systematic review

Research article

Off-label medicine use in children and adolescents: results of a population-based study in Germany

Research article

Body mass index and subjective well-being in young adults: a twin population study

Research article

Prevalence of asthma and allergies in children from the Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot communities in Cyprus: a bi-communal cross-sectional study

Research article

Prevalence, risk factors and co-morbidities of diabetes among adults in rural Saskatchewan: the influence of farm residence and agriculture-related exposures

Research article

Physical inactivity prevalence and trends among Mexican adults: results from the National Health and Nutrition Survey (ENSANUT) 2006 and 2012