Heatwaves, medications, and heat-related hospitalization in older Medicare beneficiaries with chronic conditions.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Heatwaves kill more people than floods, tornadoes, and earthquakes combined and disproportionally affect older persons and those with chronic conditions. Commonly used medications for chronic conditions, e.g., diuretics, antipsychotics disrupt thermoregulation or fluid/electrolyte balance and may sensitive patients to heat. However, the effect of heat-sensitizing medications and their interactions with heatwaves are not well-quantified. We evaluated effects of potentially heat-sensitizing medications in vulnerable older patients.

Methods

US Medicare data were linked at the zip code level to climate data with surface air temperatures for June-August of 2007-2012. Patients were Medicare beneficiaries aged ≥65 years with chronic conditions including diabetes, dementi

SUBMITTER: Layton JB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7728169 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature