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The prevalence of heat-related cardiorespiratory symptoms: the vulnerable groups identified from the National FINRISK 2007 Study

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Abstract

The prevalence of heat-related cardiorespiratory symptoms among vulnerable groups is not well known. We therefore estimated the prevalence of heat-related cardiorespiratory symptoms among the Finnish population and their associations with social and individual vulnerability factors. The data came from the National FINRISK 2007 Study, in which 4007 men and women aged 25–74 answered questions on heat-related cardiorespiratory symptoms in the Oulu Cold and Heat Questionnaire 2007. Logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs), their 95 % confidence intervals (CIs), and model-predicted prevalence figures. The prevalence of heat-related cardiorespiratory symptoms was 12 %. It increased with age, from 3 % at the age of 25 years to 28 % at the age of 75 years. The symptoms were associated with pre-existing lung (OR 3.93; CI 3.01–5.13) and cardiovascular diseases (OR 2.27; 1.78–2.89); being a pensioner (OR 2.91; 1.65–5.28), unemployed (OR 2.82; 1.47–5.48), or working in agriculture (OR 2.27; 1.14–4.46) compared with working in industry; having only basic vs academic education (OR 1.98; 1.31–3.05); being female (OR 1.94; 1.51–2.50); being heavy vs light alcohol consumer (OR 1.89; 1.02–3.32); undertaking hard vs light physical work (OR 1.48;1.06–2.07); and being inactive vs active in leisure time (OR 1.97; 1.39–2.81). The adjusted prevalence of symptoms showed a wide range of variation, from 3 to 61 % depending on sex, age, professional field, education, and pre-existing lung and cardiovascular diseases. In conclusion, heat-related cardiorespiratory symptoms are commonly perceived among people with pre-existing lung or cardiovascular disease, agricultural workers, unemployed, pensioners, and people having only basic education. This information is needed for any planning and targeting measures to reduce the burden of summer heat.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Environmental and Respiratory Health Research, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 5000, FI-90014, Oulu, Finland

    Simo Näyhä, Juhani Hassi, Jouni J. K. Jaakkola & Tiina M. Ikäheimo

  2. Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Oulu, Finland Aapistie 1, FI-90220, Oulu, Finland

    Simo Näyhä & Hannu Rintamäki

  3. Institute of Biomedicine, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 5000, FI-90014, Oulu, Finland

    Hannu Rintamäki

  4. National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, Guy Scadding Building, Royal Brompton Campus, London, SW3 6LY, UK

    Gavin Donaldson

  5. National Institute for Health and Welfare, Finland, P.O. Box 30, FI-00271, Helsinki, Finland

    Pekka Jousilahti & Tiina Laatikainen

  6. Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211, Kuopio, Finland

    Tiina Laatikainen

  7. Hospital District of North Karelia, Tikkamäentie 16, FI-80210, Joensuu, Finland

    Tiina Laatikainen

  8. Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, P.O. Box 5000, FI-90014, Oulu, Finland

    Jouni J. K. Jaakkola & Tiina M. Ikäheimo

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  1. Simo Näyhä
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Correspondence to Simo Näyhä.

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Näyhä, S., Rintamäki, H., Donaldson, G. et al. The prevalence of heat-related cardiorespiratory symptoms: the vulnerable groups identified from the National FINRISK 2007 Study. Int J Biometeorol 61, 657–668 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-016-1243-7

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