Estimating the burden of heat illness in England during the 2013 summer heatwave using syndromic surveillance

• Published in: Journal of epidemiology and community health (1979) 2016-05, Vol.70 (5), p.459-465
• Main Authors: Smith, Sue, Elliot, Alex J, Hajat, Shakoor, Bone, Angie, Smith, Gillian E, Kovats, Sari
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age groups; Aged; Child; Child, Preschool; Climate change; Community health; Cost of Illness; Emergency departments; Emergency medical care; Emergency medical services; Emergency Service, Hospital; England - epidemiology; Female; General practice; Health surveillance; Heat; Heat Exhaustion; Heat waves; Holidays & special occasions; Hospitalization; Hot Temperature - adverse effects; Humans; Illnesses; Infant; Male; Middle Aged; Mortality rates; Older adults; Older people; Population estimates; Population Surveillance - methods; Public health; Research Report; Research reports; School age children; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0143-005X; 1470-2738
• DOI: 10.1136/jech-2015-206079

BackgroundThe burden of heat illness on health systems is not well described in the UK. Although the UK generally experiences mild summers, the frequency and intensity of hot weather is likely to increase due to climate change, particularly in Southern England. We investigated the impact of the moderate heatwave in 2013 on primary care and emergency department (ED) visits using syndromic surveillance data in England.MethodsGeneral practitioner in hours (GPIH), GP out of hours (GPOOH) and ED syndromic surveillance systems were used to monitor the health impact of heat/sun stroke symptoms (heat illness). Data were stratified by age group and compared between heatwave and non-heatwave years. Incidence rate ratios were calculated for GPIH heat illness consultations.ResultsGP consultations and ED attendances for heat illness increased during the heatwave period; GPIH consultations increased across all age groups, but the highest rates were in school children and those aged ≥75 years, with the latter persisting beyond the end of the heatwave. Extrapolating to the English population, we estimated that the number of GPIH consultations for heat illness during the whole summer (May to September) 2013 was 1166 (95% CI 1064 to 1268). This was double the rate observed during non-heatwave years.ConclusionsThese findings support the monitoring of heat illness (symptoms of heat/sun stroke) as part of the Heatwave Plan for England, but also suggest that specifically monitoring heat illness in children, especially those of school age, would provide additional early warning of, and situation awareness during heatwaves.