Estimating the burden of heat illness in England during the 2013 summer heatwave using syndromic surveillance

Abstract

BackgroundThe burden of heat illness on health systems is not well described in the UK. Although the UK generally experiences mild summers, the frequency and intensity of hot weather is likely to increase due to climate change, particularly in Southern England. We investigated the impact of the moderate heatwave in 2013 on primary care and emergency department (ED) visits using syndromic surveillance data in England.MethodsGeneral practitioner in hours (GPIH), GP out of hours (GPOOH) and ED syndromic surveillance systems were used to monitor the health impact of heat/sun stroke symptoms (heat illness). Data were stratified by age group and compared between heatwave and non-heatwave years. Incidence rate ratios were calculated for GPIH heat illness consultations.ResultsGP consultations and ED attendances for heat illness increased during the heatwave period; GPIH consultations increased across all age groups, but the highest rates were in school children and those aged ≥75 years, with the latter persisting beyond the end of the heatwave. Extrapolating to the English population, we estimated that the number of GPIH consultations for heat illness during the whole summer (May to September) 2013 was 1166 (95% CI 1064 to 1268). This was double the rate observed during non-heatwave years.ConclusionsThese findings support the monitoring of heat illness (symptoms of heat/sun stroke) as part of the Heatwave Plan for England, but also suggest that specifically monitoring heat illness in children, especially those of school age, would provide additional early warning of, and situation awareness during heatwaves.

Decision-Making and Building Resilience to Nexus Shocks Locally: Exploring Flooding and Heatwaves in the UK

“…when the daily maximum temperature of more than five consecutive days exceeds the average maximum temperature by 5 degrees Celsius, the normal period being 1961-1990" [53]. Heatwaves are currently rare in the UK, however the frequency, intensity and length of heatwaves are predicted to be exacerbated by future climate and demographic changes and increasing urban development [8,[54][55][56]. However, "hot weather already presents a risk to people and property", particularly 'urban heat risk' in cities in the UK ( [54] The factors that make people, systems and structures vulnerable to high temperatures are complex and dynamic, and include quality of housing and the built environment, local urban geography, household income, employment, tenure, social networks and self-perception of risk [58].…”

“…This has led to LAs facing a cumulative cut of revenue per person between 2009-2010 and 2015-2016 of 26.1% [56] affecting progress in adaptation and resilience by LAs in the UK ( [30], p. 24). Therefore, despite there being widespread concern about the impacts of and responses to nexus shocks, a key contextual issue for decision-making and building resilience in response to these shocks stems from the fact that the resources, priorities and evidence to support long-term sustainability and the necessary collaboration and communication are not necessarily available.…”

Heat Waves Research and Impacts on Human Health: The Need for Studies in Nigeria: A Review

“…Heat waves refer to a run of hot days; precisely how many days, and how high the temperatures must rise [1]. Once the human body's physiological capacity to cope with increased heat stress is exceeded, the risks of functional failure, disease exacerbation and death rises rapidly.…”

“…If the body temperature rises above 38°C, physical and cognitive functions are impaired; above 40.6°C, risks of organ damage, loss of consciousness, and death increase sharply. At high temperatures, displacement of blood to the surface of the body may lead to circulatory collapse [1,2]. Heat waves can cause mortality and hospitalizations due to hyperthermia and similar acute illness, and also by exacerbating pre-existing conditions such as cardiovascular and pulmonary illnesses [3].…”

“…In China, efforts are being made to study the effects of heat waves on heaths and the environments. Barata and Fouillet [20,21] also examined the cause of melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancers from heat waves due to increase in emission of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in North West England, Smith et al [28] also examined the impacts of prolong extreme heat exposure and high hospital admissions for cardiovascular, respiratory and cerebrovascular diseases etc. There is paucity of information on these studies in Nigeria partly due to high cost of radiation measuring equipment as suggested by Young et al [29] and as such efforts have not been made in Nigeria to geographically examine the frequency, intensity, nature and areal extent of extreme heat waves and also to establish a cause effect relationship between prolong exposure to heat waves and hospital admission for cardiovascular, respiratory, cerebrovascular diseases, heat stroke and possible deaths.…”