The effects of the 1996–2012 summer heat events on human mortality in Slovakia

Dalibor Výberči,Pavol Faško,Milan Trizna,Eva Mičietová,Marek Švec,Henrieta Savinová

doi:10.1515/mgr-2015-0018

Dalibor Výberči, Pavol Faško + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.1515/mgr-2015-0018

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Abstract

Abstract The impacts of summer heat events on the mortality of the Slovak population, both in total and for selected population sub-groups, are the foci of this study. This research is the first of its kind, focusing on a given population, and therefore one priority was to create a knowledge base for the issue and to basically evaluate existing conditions for the heat-mortality relationship in Slovakia. This article also aims to fill a void in current research on these issues in Europe. In addition to overall effects, we focused individually on the major historical heat events which occurred in the summers of 2007, 2010 and 2012. During the heat events, a non-negligible negative response in mortality was recorded and fatal effects were more pronounced during particularly strong heat events and periods which lasted for two or more days. In general, females and the elderly were the most sensitive groups in the population and mortality was characterized by several specific effects in individual population groups. The most extreme heat periods were commonly followed by a deficit in mortality, corresponding to a short-term mortality displacement, the pattern of which varied in specific cases. In general, displaced mortality appeared to compensate for a large part of heat-induced excess deaths.

Highlights

Heat is the deadliest of all atmospheric phenomena (Changnon et al, 1996; Sheridan and Kalkstein, 2004)
We have shown that short-term mortality displacement was well expressed after the heat periods in Slovakia (Fig. 4), the most extreme individual ones (Fig. 3)
The first of its kind focusing on the Slovak population, presents a basic insight into the issue of heat impacts on mortality of the population, both overall as well as during the major individual events

Summary

Introduction

Heat is the deadliest of all atmospheric phenomena (Changnon et al, 1996; Sheridan and Kalkstein, 2004). A small portion of heat-related deaths is caused directly by hyperthermic conditions (overheating, heatstroke, etc.); high temperatures, contribute to a more pronounced pathogenesis of other, in the end deadly illnesses, especially of the circulatory and respiratory systems Possible negative impacts of hot weather on the health status of the human population came to light under the current conditions of a changing climate, expressed, inter alia, by increases in the general occurrence of very high temperatures. No new expert studies concerned with weather influences on the health status of the Slovak population were conducted. This contribution represents a pilot initiative in this area of research after two decades. Its parallel objective is to create a knowledge base for this research issue in Slovakia

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