Comparison between two methods of defining heat waves: A retrospective study in Castile-La Mancha (Spain) |
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Authors: | J.C. Montero,I.J. Miró n,C. Linares |
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Affiliation: | a Health Sciences Institute, Castile-La Mancha Regional Health & Social Welfare Authority, Talavera de la Reina (Toledo), Spainb Torrijos Health District, Castile-La Mancha Regional Health & Social Welfare Authority, Torrijos (Toledo), Spainc Castile-La Mancha Health Service (Servicio de Salud de Castilla-La Mancha - SESCAM), Talavera de la Reina (Toledo), Spaind National Centre for Epidemiology, Carlos III Institute of Health, Madrid, Spaine National School of Public Health, Carlos III Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain |
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Abstract: | IntroductionFollowing the 2003 heat wave, many European countries implemented heat-wave prevention plans. A number of aspects can prove fundamental in determining the effectiveness of such plans, and of these we sought to analyse the criteria used to define threshold temperatures and trigger a higher level of intervention.MethodRetrospective study of the days on which heat-wave thresholds were exceeded during the period 1974-2003 was conducted. We compared when and at what level the heat-wave prevention plan would have been activated using a statistical-meteorological criterion (as applied by the Spanish Ministry of Health & Consumer Affairs) versus a temperature-mortality criterion.ResultsThe number of days on which the threshold was exceeded was far higher when the temperature-mortality criterion was applied.The temperature percentile at which a heat wave occurred was different for each province analysed and was inversely proportional to its respective ageing index.Using both criteria, there was an increase in heat-wave days per decade.ConclusionThe establishment of a heat-wave threshold temperature must be based on knowledge of the cause-effect relationship between temperature and the health of a given population. Mortality is an appropriate indicator of population health. The future effects of climate change render it essential for this relationship to be studied on a local scale, so as to enable truly efficient prevention plans to be drawn up. |
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Keywords: | Heat wave Prevention plans Climate change Mortality |
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