As we all know, with Falling temperatures can increase the incidence of respiratory illnesses and thus hospital admissions.but, paradoxically, The highest hospital mortality occurs in the summer and is therefore related to high temperatures. As shown in a study led by the Barcelona Institute of Global Health (ISGlobal), a center promoted by the “la Caixa” foundation.
“I was doing a descriptive analysis and noticed a very peculiar pattern in the data: hospital mortality from respiratory disease was higher in the summer than in the winter, which was in stark contrast to other causes of death, such as cardiovascular disease,” explains the study’s First author Hicham Achebak, a researcher at Iserm and ISGlobal, also commented, “You can also verify that the mortality pattern is opposite to the income pattern, because while income increases with cold temperatures, mortality does. Increased in the summer.”
Given these data, Achebak initiated the study to “understand the impact of ambient temperature on this pattern of hospital mortality.” Therefore, the team collected data on daily hospitalizations for respiratory illnesses through emergency departments, as well as meteorological data (temperature and relative humidity) and data related to atmospheric pollutants.After his analysis, he confirmed this “Increase in respiratory mortality in hospitals in Madrid and Barcelona due to rising summer temperaturesHowever, this effect was not affected by air pollution or relative humidity, which did not contribute to the spike in fatal hospitalizations.
Specifically, within the framework of this study published in The Lancet Region, it was determined that: High summer temperatures accounted for 16% and 22.1% of hospitalization deaths due to respiratory diseases in Madrid and Barcelona respectively.
In addition, it was also found The effects of high temperatures are immediateAchebak said that since most occur “in the first three days after exposure to heat,” he commented, “When it comes to the effects of cold on respiratory illness, it’s longer and “may take up to two days.” It takes three weeks to develop, like pneumonia. “
Likewise, it has been observed that The effects of heat are particularly evident in certain respiratory illnesses, such as acute bronchitis and bronchiolitis, pneumonia, and respiratory failure. and? Women are more susceptible to the effects of high temperatures than men. The latter may be due to specific physiological differences in thermoregulation, such that women have a higher temperature threshold than men.
Given this evidence, the researchers believe that increased hospital mortality from respiratory illnesses during the warmer months could be explained by “the very severe effects of heat, or because we have no effective remedies or treatments for those associated with high temperatures.” associated morbidity.” “.
Adaptation measures
Regardless, in the context of climate change leading to global warming, increasing temperatures, aging populations, and increased prevalence of respiratory diseases, The study’s conclusion calls for us to “implement adaptation measures to minimize the impact of high temperatures in patients with chronic respiratory disease and consider additional strategies to treat these patients.” Archerbuck pointed out
In this regard, the researchers mention “urban design and urban planning that can reduce exposure to heat, early warning systems for heat events, patient monitoring or awareness campaigns.” And, in the household sector, “the most effective measures are Maintain a comfortable temperature,” he concluded.