Provision of Air Conditioning and Heat-Related Mortality in Texas Prisons.

ABSTRACT:

Importance

There is a large body of epidemiologic evidence that heat is associated with increased risk of mortality. One of the most effective strategies to mitigate the effects of heat is through air conditioning (AC); Texas regulates the internal temperature of jails to stay between 65 and 85 °F degrees, but these same standards do not apply to state and private prisons.

Objective

To analyze whether heat during warm months is associated with an increased risk of mortality in Texas prisons without AC.

Design, setting, and participants

This case-crossover study included individuals who died in Texas prisons between 2001 and 2019. The association of heat in warm months with mortality in Texas prisons with and without AC was estimated. Data analysis was conducted from J

SUBMITTER: Skarha J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9631100 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature