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Excess mortality related to the August 2003 heat wave in France

International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health volume 80, pages 16–24 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

Objectives: From August 1st to 20th, 2003, the mean maximum temperature in France exceeded the seasonal norm by 11–12°C on nine consecutive days. A major increase in mortality was then observed, which main epidemiological features are described herein. Methods: The number of deaths observed from August to November 2003 in France was compared to those expected on the basis of the mortality rates observed from 2000 to 2002 and the 2003 population estimates. Results: From August 1st to 20th, 2003, 15,000 excess deaths were observed. From 35 years age, the excess mortality was marked and increased with age. It was 15% higher in women than in men of comparable age as of age 45 years. Excess mortality at home and in retirement institutions was greater than that in hospitals. The mortality of widowed, single and divorced subjects was greater than that of married people. Deaths directly related to heat, heatstroke, hyperthermia and dehydration increased massively. Cardiovascular diseases, ill-defined morbid disorders, respiratory diseases and nervous system diseases also markedly contributed to the excess mortality. The geographic variations in mortality showed a clear age-dependent relationship with the number of very hot days. No harvesting effect was observed. Conclusions: Heat waves must be considered as a threat to European populations living in climates that are currently temperate. While the elderly and people living alone are particularly vulnerable to heat waves, no segment of the population may be considered protected from the risks associated with heat waves.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to express our gratitude to the institutions that afforded us various forms of assistance in this study: the “Ministère de la Santé, de la Famille et des Personnes Handicapées” which commissioned the present study; Inserm, INSEE and Météo-France, and to the members of those institutions with whom we worked: V. Lasserre, with Inserm-U170-IFR69; C. Jacquart, H. Lefèvre, M. Bovet, F. Péquignot, A. Le Toullec and M. Pauchard, with Inserm-CépiDc-IFR69; G. Desplanques, C. Beaume, F. Clanché, R. Merlen, D. Morineau and L. Doisneau, with INSEE; P. Courtier, B. Rambaldelli, N. Bourdette and J. Manach with Météo-France. We are also very grateful to A. Mullarky for his skilful assistance in the preparation of the English version of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Recherches en Epidémiologie Environnementale des Cancers, Inserm, U754, IFR 69, Université Paris Sud 11, 16, avenue Paul Vaillant-Couturier, 94807, Villejuif, France

    A. Fouillet, G. Rey, S. Bellec, C. Guihenneuc-Jouyaux, J. Clavel & Denis Hémon

  2. Centre d’Epidémiologie sur les Causes Médicales de Décès, Inserm, CépiDc, IFR 69, 44, Chemin des Ronde, 78116, Le Vésinet, France

    F. Laurent, G. Pavillon & E. Jougla

  3. Université Paris 5, CNRS UMR 8145, 45 rue des Saints-Pères, 75270, Paris, France

    C. Guihenneuc-Jouyaux

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  1. A. Fouillet
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  2. G. Rey
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  3. F. Laurent
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  4. G. Pavillon
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  5. S. Bellec
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  7. J. Clavel
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  8. E. Jougla
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  9. Denis Hémon
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Correspondence to Denis Hémon.

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A. Fouillet and G. Rey have equally contributed to this work.

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Fouillet, A., Rey, G., Laurent, F. et al. Excess mortality related to the August 2003 heat wave in France. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 80, 16–24 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-006-0089-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-006-0089-4

Keywords

  • Heat wave
  • Mortality
  • Modifying factors
  • Causes of death
  • Harvesting