Dataset Information
Urbanization Level and Vulnerability to Heat-Related Mortality in Jiangsu Province, China.
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Background
Although adverse effects of high temperature on mortality have been studied extensively in urban areas, little is known of the heat-mortality associations outside of cities.Objective
We investigated whether heat-mortality associations differed between urban and nonurban areas and how urbanicity affected the vulnerability to heat-related mortality.Methods
We first analyzed heat-related mortality risk in each of 102 counties in Jiangsu Province, China, during 2009-2013 using a distributed-lag nonlinear model. The county-specific estimates were then pooled for more urban (percentage of urban population ? 57.11%) and less urban (percentage of urban population < 57.11%) counties using a Bayesian hierarchical model. To explain the spatial variation in associations by county, county-level characteristics affecting heat vulnerability were also examined.Results
We found that the overall mortality risk comparing the 99th vs. 75th percentiles of temperature was 1.43 [95% posterior intervals (PI): 1.36, 1.50] in less urban counties and 1.26 (95% PI: 1.23, 1.30) in more urban counties. The heat effects on cardiorespiratory mortality followed a similar pattern. Higher education level and prevalence of air conditioning were significantly associated with counties having lower risks, whereas percentage of elderly people was significantly associated with increased risks.Conclusion
Our findings reveal that nonurban areas have significant heat-related mortality risks in Jiangsu, China. These results suggest the need for enhanced adaptation planning in Chinese nonurban areas under a changing climate. Citation: Chen K, Zhou L, Chen X, Ma Z, Liu Y, Huang L, Bi J, Kinney PL. 2016. Urbanization level and vulnerability to heat-related mortality in Jiangsu Province, China. Environ Health Perspect 124:1863-1869;?http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/EHP204.
SUBMITTER: Chen K
PROVIDER: S-EPMC5132638 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Dec
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
Urbanization Level and Vulnerability to Heat-Related Mortality in Jiangsu Province, China.
Environmental health perspectives 20160506 12
<h4>Background</h4>Although adverse effects of high temperature on mortality have been studied extensively in urban areas, little is known of the heat-mortality associations outside of cities.<h4>Objective</h4>We investigated whether heat-mortality associations differed between urban and nonurban areas and how urbanicity affected the vulnerability to heat-related mortality.<h4>Methods</h4>We first analyzed heat-related mortality risk in each of 102 counties in Jiangsu Province, China, during 200 ...[more]