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Impact of extreme temperatures on daily mortality in Madrid (Spain) among the 45–64 age-group

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Abstract

This paper analyses the relationship between extreme temperatures and mortality among persons aged 45–64 years. Daily mortality in Madrid was analysed by sex and cause, from January 1986 to December 1997. Quantitative analyses were performed using generalised additive models, with other covariables, such as influenza, air pollution and seasonality, included as controls. Our results showed that impact on mortality was limited for temperatures ranging from the 5th to the 95th percentiles, and increased sharply thereafter. During the summer period, the effect of heat was detected solely among males in the target age group, with an attributable risk (AR) of 13.3% for circulatory causes. Similarly, NO2 concentrations registered the main statistically significant associations in females, with an AR of 15% when circulatory causes were considered. During winter, the impact of cold was exclusively observed among females having an AR of 7.7%. The magnitude of the AR indicates that the impact of extreme temperature is by no means negligible.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Carlos III Institute of Public Health (Network of Co-operative Epidemiological and Public Health Research Centres - Centros RCESP C03/09) for the support received for this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dpto. de Educación para el Desarrollo Sostenible, Ayuntamiento de Madrid, C/Bustamante, 16. 5a Planta, 28045, Madrid, Spain

    Julio Díaz & Cristina Linares

  2. Mathematics Department, Faculty of Science, Barcelona Autonomous University, Barcelona, Spain

    Aurelio Tobías

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  1. Julio Díaz
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  2. Cristina Linares
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  3. Aurelio Tobías
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Correspondence to Julio Díaz.

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Julio Díaz is adviser to the Madrid Autonomous University General Foundation, on behalf of the Department of Education for Sustainable Development, Madrid City Council, Madrid, Spain

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Díaz, J., Linares, C. & Tobías, A. Impact of extreme temperatures on daily mortality in Madrid (Spain) among the 45–64 age-group. Int J Biometeorol 50, 342–348 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-006-0033-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-006-0033-z

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