Perceived adverse health effects of heat and their determinants in deprived neighbourhoods: a cross-sectional survey of nine cities in Canada.

Diane Bélanger,Pierre Valois,Pierre Gosselin,Belkacem Abdous

doi:10.3390/ijerph111111028

Abstract

This study identifies several characteristics of individuals who report their physical and/or mental health as being adversely affected by summertime heat and humidity, within the most disadvantaged neighbourhoods of the nine largest cities of Québec (Canada). The study is cross-sectional by stratified representative sample; 3485 people were interviewed in their residence. The prevalence of reported impacts was 46%, mostly physical health. Female gender and long-term medical leave are two impact risk indicators in people <65 years of age. Low income and air conditioning at home are risk indicators at all ages. Results for having ≥2 diagnoses of chronic diseases, particularly for people self-describing as in poor health (odds ratio, OR<65 = 5.6; OR≥65 = 4.2), and perceiving daily stress, are independent of age. The prevalence of reported heat-related health impacts is thus very high in those inner cities, with notable differences according to age, stress levels and long-term medical leave, previously unmentioned in the literature. Finally, the total number of pre-existing medical conditions seems to be a preponderant risk factor. This study complements the epidemiologic studies based on mortality or severe morbidity and shows that the heat-related burden of disease appears very important in those communities, affecting several subgroups differentially.

Highlights

Climate change is well established internationally, as demonstrated by the most recent report of the IPCC [1] and a recent publication by NASA researchers that proposes that these changes have caused the extremely high temperatures and heat waves of the last 30 years [2]
They consisted of people who described most of their days as being rather or extremely stressful and of people reporting at least two diagnoses of chronic diseases, those who considered their state of health as being fair or poor
The present study documented the prevalence of reported health impacts during very hot and humid summer conditions in the most disadvantaged dissemination areas of Québec’s most populated cities

Summary

Introduction

Climate change is well established internationally, as demonstrated by the most recent report of the IPCC [1] and a recent publication by NASA researchers that proposes that these changes have caused the extremely high temperatures and heat waves of the last 30 years [2]. These high temperatures have health consequences on populations worldwide, as reviewed recently [3,4]. The validity of self-reported versus medical-based diagnoses and behaviours has been well established over time, several countries and data collection methods, especially as a tool for predicting future risks and as an epidemiologic survey tool for prevention and public health actions [5,6,7,8], including for older people [9]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion