Extreme heat and pediatric health in a warming world: a space-time stratified case-crossover investigation in Ontario, Canada

Abstract

Background Globally, climate change is causing frequent and severe extreme heat events (EHEs). A large body of literature links EHEs to multiple health endpoints. While children’s physiology and activity patterns differ from those of adults in ways that are hypothesized to increase susceptibility to such endpoints, research gaps remain regarding the specific impacts of EHEs on child health. This study evaluated pediatric emergency healthcare utilizations associated with EHEs in Ontario. Methods Applying a space-time stratified case-crossover design, associations between EHEs (same-day or lagged exposure to consecutive days of daily maximum temperatures above percentile thresholds) and 15 causes of pediatric emergency healthcare use in Ontario, Canada from 2005–2015 were analysed using conditional quasi-Poisson regression. In primary analyses, EHEs were defined as two or more consecutive days with temperatures above the 99th percentile of temperature within each respective forward sortation area (FSA). Healthcare use was measured using hospital admissions as an indicator of severe outcomes, and emergency department (ED) visits as a sensitive measure of outcomes. Results EHEs increased the risk of pediatric hospital admissions for respiratory illnesses by 26% (95% CI: 14%-40%), asthma by 29% (16%-44%); infectious and parasitic diseases by 36% (24%-50%), lower respiratory infections by 50% (36%-67%), and enteritis by 19% (7%-32%). EHEs also increased the risk of ED visits for lower respiratory infections by 10% (0%-21%), asthma by 18% (7%-29%), heat-related illnesses by 211% (193%-230%), heatstroke by 590% (550%-622%), and dehydration by 35% (25%-46%), but not for other causes. Admissions and ED visits due to injuries and transportation related injuries were negatively associated with EHEs. Neither all-cause hospital admissions nor ED visits were associated with EHEs. Conclusions In Ontario, EHEs decreased the risk of pediatric emergency healthcare utilization for injuries and increased the risk of respiratory illnesses, asthma, heat-related illnesses, heatstroke, dehydration, infectious and parasitic diseases, lower respiratory infections, and enteritis. Tailored policies and programs that reflect the specific heat-related vulnerabilities of children to respiratory and infectious illnesses are warranted in the face of a rapidly warming climate.