Abstract
Objectives
To characterize excess mortality during a major heat wave in California and its regions; to assess the validity of a simple method.
Methods
We calculated mortality rate ratios for the heat-wave period, using a reference period of the same number of days from the same summer. We conducted alternative analyses and compared our results with those from a time-series model.
Results
We estimated 655 excess deaths, a 6% increase (95% confidence interval, 3–9%), impacting varied geographic/climate regions. Alternate analyses supported model validity.
Conclusions
California experienced excess heat-wave related mortality not restricted to high heat regions. As climate change is anticipated to increase heat events, public health efforts to monitor effects assume greater importance.
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Hoshiko, S., English, P., Smith, D. et al. A simple method for estimating excess mortality due to heat waves, as applied to the 2006 California heat wave. Int J Public Health 55, 133–137 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-009-0060-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-009-0060-8