Abstract
To investigate the link between higher air temperature and ambulance transports due to heat stroke, especially in elderly subjects, using daily data in Sai-tama prefecture in August, 2010, Japan. We obtained daily data of air temperature in Saitama prefecture in August, 2010, Japan from Japan Meteorological Agency. Number of ambulance transports due to heat stroke was also used by Saitama prefecture official website. The effect of high air temperature on am-bulance transports due to heat stroke was evaluated. A total of 1688 ambulance transports due to heat stroke was observed in Saitama prefecture in August, 2010, Japan. Seven hundred and twenty one subjects (42.7%) were over the age of 65. Mean air temperature, the highest air temperature and day light hours were significantly associated with ambulance transports due to heat stroke in total subjects (mean air temperature: r = 0.749, p < 0.0001) and the over the age of 7. In addition, by separate analysis as classified by age groups, the correlation coefficient between ambulance transports due to heat stroke and mean air temperature was the highest in subjects with over 65. However, the lowest air temperature was not cor-related with ambulance transports due to heat stroke. Higher air temperature was closely associated with higher ambulance transports due to heat stroke using daily data in Saitama prefecture in August, 2010, Ja-pan, especially in elderly subjects.
Highlights
Heat stroke in summer in Japan has become public health challenge in Japan
We evaluated the relationship between ambulance transports due to heat stroke and air temperatures and daylight hours (Table 2)
The main finding of this study was that we explored the mean air temperature was closely associated with ambulance transports due to heat stroke using daily data in Japan, especially in elderly subjects
Summary
Heat stroke in summer in Japan has become public health challenge in Japan. We have previously showed that positive changes in air temperature in some areas in Japan [1,2]. Higher air temperature was closely associated with higher ambulance transports by monthly data in Takamatsu [3] and Okayama [4] areas, Japan. Significant relationship between high air temperature and high ambulance transports was noted in Osaka area in August, 2009, Japan [5]. We explored, by ecological study, the link between high air temperatures and ambulance transports due to heat stroke in 47 prefectures, Japan [6]. The relation between high air temperature and ambulance transports by heat stroke by using daily data still remain to be investigated. Separate analysis classified by age groups in the link between high air temperature and heat stroke is urgently required
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