Heatstroke characteristics and meteorological conditions in Hefei, China: thresholds and driving factors
Abstract Background Due to climate change and rapid urbanization, the frequency of heatwave events in East China has increased considerably since the 21st century, which has a considerable influence on human health, such as heatstroke. However, few studies have been conducted in this region on the r...
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2025-01-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21577-y |
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| author | Xueliang Deng Liang Zhao Changchun Xiao Rui Dai Qianqian Xu Yeqing Yao Caimeng Liang Lei Yao Dongyan He |
| author_facet | Xueliang Deng Liang Zhao Changchun Xiao Rui Dai Qianqian Xu Yeqing Yao Caimeng Liang Lei Yao Dongyan He |
| author_sort | Xueliang Deng |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Due to climate change and rapid urbanization, the frequency of heatwave events in East China has increased considerably since the 21st century, which has a considerable influence on human health, such as heatstroke. However, few studies have been conducted in this region on the relationship between heatstroke and meteorological conditions. To address this point, this study aimed to analyze the characteristics of heatstroke and their relationship with meteorological conditions in Hefei, China. Methods The 2008–2022 heatstroke data from Hefei Center for Disease Control and Prevention was used. The relationship between heatstroke and meteorological conditions was discussed by statistical methods, such as correlation analysis, cluster analysis and linear regression analysis. Results The number of heatstroke cases fluctuated upward from 36 cases in 2008 to 1051 cases in 2022, with 71.5% of all cases for males and females accounting for 28.5%. The highest frequency of heatstroke occurrence was found to be concentrated in the middle age group (40–59 years old). According to the statistical analysis, air temperature and relative humidity were the most important meteorological factors that influenced the occurrence of heatstroke. Then a threshold system of meteorological factors for heatstroke was established by utilizing the relationship: daily average temperature (T) ≥ 30 °C & daily average relative humidity (RH) ≤ 80% and daily maximum temperature (Tmax) ≥ 35 °C & daily minimum relative humidity (RHmin) ≤ 65%. The threshold in group outbreak areas was stricter than it in high incidence areas. Furthermore, the Pacific Subtropical High (PSH) was found to be the primary climatic factor that determined the occurrence of heatstroke occurrence on a seasonal scale. In addition, significant differences in heatstroke risk were found among different groups of people. Heatstroke risk was substantially higher in males than in females due to larger opportunities for outdoor labor. The reduced physical fitness of elderly people raised the risk of heatstroke more than other age groups in extremely high temperatures. Conclusions A meteorological threshold system had been established to forecast heatstroke occurrence in a short-term time, and a key climate driving factor of heatstroke was found for long-term heatstroke prediction in Hefei. These findings could facilitate the disease control department to take preventive and control measures to reduce the impact of heatstroke on human health and society. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-439947f062724f63af052aa1636f744a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-439947f062724f63af052aa1636f744a2025-02-02T12:46:04ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-01-0125111210.1186/s12889-025-21577-yHeatstroke characteristics and meteorological conditions in Hefei, China: thresholds and driving factorsXueliang Deng0Liang Zhao1Changchun Xiao2Rui Dai3Qianqian Xu4Yeqing Yao5Caimeng Liang6Lei Yao7Dongyan He8Hefei Meteorological BureauState Key Laboratory of Numerical Modeling for Atmosphere Sciences and Geophysical Fluid Dynamics (LASG), Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of SciencesHefei Center for Disease Control and PreventionHefei Meteorological BureauHefei Meteorological BureauAnhui Public Meteorological Service CenterSchool of Atmospheric Sciences, Nanjing University of Information Science and TechnologyHefei Meteorological BureauKey Laboratory of Cities Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change in Shanghai (CMACC)Abstract Background Due to climate change and rapid urbanization, the frequency of heatwave events in East China has increased considerably since the 21st century, which has a considerable influence on human health, such as heatstroke. However, few studies have been conducted in this region on the relationship between heatstroke and meteorological conditions. To address this point, this study aimed to analyze the characteristics of heatstroke and their relationship with meteorological conditions in Hefei, China. Methods The 2008–2022 heatstroke data from Hefei Center for Disease Control and Prevention was used. The relationship between heatstroke and meteorological conditions was discussed by statistical methods, such as correlation analysis, cluster analysis and linear regression analysis. Results The number of heatstroke cases fluctuated upward from 36 cases in 2008 to 1051 cases in 2022, with 71.5% of all cases for males and females accounting for 28.5%. The highest frequency of heatstroke occurrence was found to be concentrated in the middle age group (40–59 years old). According to the statistical analysis, air temperature and relative humidity were the most important meteorological factors that influenced the occurrence of heatstroke. Then a threshold system of meteorological factors for heatstroke was established by utilizing the relationship: daily average temperature (T) ≥ 30 °C & daily average relative humidity (RH) ≤ 80% and daily maximum temperature (Tmax) ≥ 35 °C & daily minimum relative humidity (RHmin) ≤ 65%. The threshold in group outbreak areas was stricter than it in high incidence areas. Furthermore, the Pacific Subtropical High (PSH) was found to be the primary climatic factor that determined the occurrence of heatstroke occurrence on a seasonal scale. In addition, significant differences in heatstroke risk were found among different groups of people. Heatstroke risk was substantially higher in males than in females due to larger opportunities for outdoor labor. The reduced physical fitness of elderly people raised the risk of heatstroke more than other age groups in extremely high temperatures. Conclusions A meteorological threshold system had been established to forecast heatstroke occurrence in a short-term time, and a key climate driving factor of heatstroke was found for long-term heatstroke prediction in Hefei. These findings could facilitate the disease control department to take preventive and control measures to reduce the impact of heatstroke on human health and society.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21577-yHeatstrokeMeteorological factorsClimate changeHefei |
| spellingShingle | Xueliang Deng Liang Zhao Changchun Xiao Rui Dai Qianqian Xu Yeqing Yao Caimeng Liang Lei Yao Dongyan He Heatstroke characteristics and meteorological conditions in Hefei, China: thresholds and driving factors BMC Public Health Heatstroke Meteorological factors Climate change Hefei |
| title | Heatstroke characteristics and meteorological conditions in Hefei, China: thresholds and driving factors |
| title_full | Heatstroke characteristics and meteorological conditions in Hefei, China: thresholds and driving factors |
| title_fullStr | Heatstroke characteristics and meteorological conditions in Hefei, China: thresholds and driving factors |
| title_full_unstemmed | Heatstroke characteristics and meteorological conditions in Hefei, China: thresholds and driving factors |
| title_short | Heatstroke characteristics and meteorological conditions in Hefei, China: thresholds and driving factors |
| title_sort | heatstroke characteristics and meteorological conditions in hefei china thresholds and driving factors |
| topic | Heatstroke Meteorological factors Climate change Hefei |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21577-y |
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