Heat waves and health outcomes in Alabama (USA): the importance of heat wave definition.

ABSTRACT:

Background

A deeper understanding of how heat wave definition affects the relationship between heat exposure and health, especially as a function of rurality, will be useful in developing effective heat wave warning systems.

Objective

We compared the relationships between different heat wave index (HI) definitions and preterm birth (PTB) and nonaccidental death (NAD) across urban and rural areas.

Methods

We used a time-stratified case-crossover design to estimate associations of PTB and NAD with heat wave days (defined using 15 HIs) relative to non-heat wave control days in Alabama, USA (1990-2010). ZIP code-level HIs were derived using data from the North American Land Data Assimilation System. Associations with heat wave days defined using different HIs were compare

SUBMITTER: Kent ST 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3914868 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature