Lower air temperature is associated with ambulance transports and death in Takamatsu area, Japan

Abstract

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the linkage among ambulance transports, the number of death and air temperature in Takamatsu area, Japan. Methods Monthly data of ambulance transports (total and acute disease) and the number of death from 2004 to 2012 were obtained from Fire Department Service in Takamatsu and Takamatsu city official website, Japan. Climate parameters for required period were also obtained from Japan Meteorological Agency. Population data in Takamatsu area were also used to adjust ambulance transports and the number of death. The linkage among ambulance transports, the number of death and climate parameters was evaluated by ecological analysis. Results Total ambulance transports (/a hundred thousand people/day) and ambulance transports due to acute disease (/a hundred thousand people/day) were 12.3 ± 0.9 and 6.8 ± 0.7, respectively. The number of death (/a hundred thousand people/day) was 2.5 ± 0.4. By quadratic curve, ambulance transports due to acute disease and the number of death were significantly correlated with the parameters of air temperature. However, the number of death was the highest in January and the lowest in August.Conclusion Although higher air temperature was only associated with higher ambulance transports, lower air temperature was associated with both higher ambulance transports and the number death in Takamatsu area, Japan.

The linkage among ambulance transports, death and climate parameters in Asahikawa City, Japan

“…In addition, by quadratic curves, we estimated the relationship between total ambulance transports and climate parameters, and between the number of deaths and climate parameters. The correlation coefficients, especially between the number of deaths and climate parameters, were not as high compared with our previous reports in the Takamatsu area, which is located in Shikoku Island, Japan [10]. Southern et al [6] showed that despite the potential for significant adverse effects of snow days on the incidence of myocardial infarction, snow days had only minor effects, if any.…”

“…We have also previously reported that lower air temperature was associated with higher ambulance transports in the Sakata area, Yamagata Prefecture, Tohoku, Japan [9]. In addition, lower air temperature was closely linked to a higher the number of deaths in the Takamatsu area, which is located on Shikoku Island, Japan [10]. However, we could not fully evaluate especially the effect of very low air temperature and snowfall on ambulance transports and the number of deaths for Japan as a whole.…”

Relationship between Air Temperature Parameters and the Number of Deaths Stratified by Cause in Gifu Prefecture, Japan

“…We previously reported a significant relationship between air temperature and the total number of deaths, but not the number of deaths stratified by causes in Sakata city [17], Takamatsu city [18], Asahikawa city [19], and all 47 prefectures of Japan [20]. The number of ambulance transports was found to be associated with air temperature, and lower air temperature (winter season) was also closely associated with a higher total number of deaths [17][18][19][20]. Therefore, an effective strategy to prevent deaths affected by air temperature is required in Japan.…”

Prediction Model of Deep Learning for Ambulance Transports in Kesennuma City by Meteorological Data

“…We performed 2 studies; First, to confirm the association between ambulance transports and meteorological data, we performed a retrospective and statistical analysis similar to the previous reports. 6 , 7 Second, we made prediction models for daily ambulance transports using meteorological and calendarial factors and evaluated their accuracies to test the utility of the DL-based models.…”

“…In Japan, weather, or meteorological factors are related to ambulance dispatches, the number of deaths, and traumas. [2][3][4] Also, the total numbers of deaths have a relationship with air temperatures, [5][6][7][8] and winter also relates to trauma like fractures 9 and motor vehicle accidents. 10 However, there are 4 seasons in Japan with meteorological flections.…”